Australia mushroom murder: ‘Catastrophic’ hotel mix-up at the heart of appeal

Lawyers for Erin Patterson say her conviction was undermined by a “catastrophic” mix-up that led to the jury staying at the same hotel as prosecutors and a key witness.

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Australia’s mushroom murderer Erin Patterson attended a hearing via video link from prison on Wednesday as her lawyers argued her conviction was undermined by a “catastrophic” mix-up.

They say the trial had been compromised as the jury were placed in the same hotel as some prosecutors and a key witness.

Patterson is serving a life sentence after killing three of her relatives and trying to kill another by serving them a beef Wellington containing death cap mushrooms at her Victoria home in 2023. She has always maintained it was an accident.

Her lawyers also argued some evidence in the trial was too speculative and that evidence crucial to their own case was wrongfully excluded.

The BBC’s Australia Correspondent, Katy Watson, talks through what happened in court.

17 minutes agoAustraliaVictoriaMelbourneShareSave

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