Erin Patterson’s estranged husband Simon comes face-to-face together with his ex for the primary time since she used to be accused of murdering his oldsters after fatal mushroom lunch

Simon Patterson has entered the witness field to offer proof in opposition to his former spouse Erin, describing her as ‘witty and slightly clever’ as he detailed their existence in combination. 

It is the primary time Simon has laid eyes on his estranged spouse in individual since her arrest over the alleged homicide of his oldsters in 2023. 

Patterson, 50, is accused of killing her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, with loss of life cap mushrooms served in a pastry dish all through a lunch at her Leongatha house on July 29, 2023.

Pastor Ian Wilkinson used to be the one attendee to continue to exist the lunch, with Patterson additionally charged with tried homicide over his alleged poisoning.

Dressed in red, Patterson confirmed no emotion as Simon entered the witness field.

The pair locked eyes in brief ahead of Patterson started to offer his proof.  

Simon were invited to the fatal lunch however pulled out the night time ahead of. 

The jury has already heard 3 tried homicide fees with regards to him have been withdrawn final week.

Patterson has pleaded now not to blame to a few counts of homicide and certainly one of tried homicide.

Simon spent the early a part of Thursday answering questions on his circle of relatives and the way he got here to satisfy after which break away his spouse. 

He known as his estranged spouse ‘witty and slightly clever’ ahead of telling the courtroom she prior to now held a place as an air-traffic controller at Melbourne Airport in Tullamarine. 

He defined how Patterson had loved instructing herself, learning puppy science, regulation and science. 

When requested if Patterson preferred to ask other people over to the circle of relatives house, Simon mentioned it used to be ‘very uncommon’.   

On July 16, all through a church provider, Patterson allegedly requested her in-laws over for lunch, the courtroom heard prior to now.

She additionally requested Simon to wait, regardless of the couple’s dating being at the decline.

The courtroom heard the aim of the lunch used to be to talk about ‘clinical problems’ and the way ‘to damage it to the children’.

Erin Patterson as she gave the impression in courtroom on Monday 

Those problems have been Patterson’s false claims that she had ovarian most cancers. 

Patterson used to be insistent she didn’t need the children to wait and Simon agreed to wait the lunch.

The courtroom heard every of Patterson’s visitors have been to begin with at a loss for words concerning the invitation and puzzled what the aim used to be.

Simon pulled out eventually minute as a result of he ‘felt uncomfortable’ – a transfer which allegedly pissed off his estranged spouse.

Patterson texted ‘she used to be disenchanted’ as she’d installed a large number of effort for the ‘particular meal’.

The courtroom heard Patterson instructed Simon it used to be essential everybody attended.

In opening the prosecution case, Dr Nanette Rogers claimed that, whilst separated, Patterson and Simon had to begin with loved a ‘pleasant dating’.

Despite keeping apart in 2015, Simon had remained hopeful they might reunite one day, Dr Rogers mentioned.

Simon Patterson entered courtroom together with his media cohort Jessica O’Donnell

Simon Patterson will probably be go tested by means of his spouse’s felony group (pictured) 

The pair had communicated ceaselessly by way of the Signal messaging app up till 2022 when Simon spotted a metamorphosis.

Dr Rogers instructed the jury Patterson expressed worry when Simon indexed himself as separated on his tax go back.

She additionally sought after kid fortify and the college charges paid.

The courtroom heard Patterson modified the youngsters’s college with out consulting Simon.

In remaining her opening cope with on Wednesday, Dr Rogers instructed the jury a reason used to be now not essential for individuals to convict Patterson and they might now not be given one.

‘Motive isn’t one thing that needs to be confirmed by means of the prosecution,’ Dr Rogers mentioned.

‘The prosecution may not be suggesting that there used to be a specific reason to do what she did.’

Instead, Dr Rogers instructed the jury that by means of the tip of the trial they might be satisfied Patterson lured her sufferers to lunch with false claims she had most cancers ahead of intentionally serving them mini red meat Wellingtons laced with loss of life cap mushrooms.

She instructed the jury it may well be satisfied Patterson had now not eaten any of the toxic meal, pretended to be in poor health and not fed her kids any of the leftovers containing the loss of life cap mushrooms.

Patterson’s barrister Colin Mandy, SC advised reason used to be a very powerful issue within the case.

‘Did she have a reason to kill those 4 members of the family?’ he mentioned. ‘That factor of purpose is the crucial factor on this trial.

‘Did she intend to kill those 4 other people? That’s the problem.

‘We say she did not do it intentionally … the defence case is what came about used to be a tragedy. A horrible twist of fate.’

More to return.  

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