Imagine sitting down for what you think is a lovely meal with family, only to discover that your host has turned your dinner into a deadly affair. In a chilling case that has left Australia reeling, Erin Patterson is accused of taking family feuds to a horrifying new level by allegedly murdering three of her in-laws using toxic mushrooms.

But the nightmare doesn’t end there. New evidence has emerged, revealing that Patterson allegedly attempted to murder her husband too, using poisoned dishes such as pasta and chicken curry. This shocking twist was disclosed after a judge allowed its revelation, sending shockwaves through the courtroom.

Last month, a jury found the 50-year-old guilty of luring her mother-in-law, Gail Patterson, father-in-law, Don Patterson, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, to her home for lunch and then serving them a meal of Beef Wellington that was secretly laced with death cap mushrooms — one of the deadliest fungi known to humanity.

But what’s even more unsettling is the tale of her estranged husband, Ian Wilkinson, who managed to survive an earlier meal in 2023. The court heard how Erin had been charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder, including charges pertaining to Simon Patterson, her estranged husband. However, those charges were dropped just before the trial began, leaving many questions unanswered.

Justice Christopher Beale had ruled that the charges would be split into two separate trials, meaning the jury heard nothing about Simon’s harrowing experiences with Erin’s cooking. It was during a pre-trial hearing that Simon revealed his suspicions. After falling ill multiple times after eating his wife’s dishes, he started keeping a detailed spreadsheet chronicling his illnesses. From penne bolognese to chicken curry, every meal seemed to bring him closer to death.

His ordeal was terrifying, as he suffered temporary paralysis and had part of his bowel removed. Medical professionals struggled to identify the causes of his ailments, with Simon even going so far as to present a container of his vomit to the hospital after a particularly bad episode following a meal prepared by Erin. In a twisted irony, Don Patterson, who died at Erin’s infamous July 2023 lunch, was convinced he had been poisoned, leading him to take his vomit to the hospital for testing.

Adding to the intrigue, evidence was uncovered from a computer seized from Erin’s home, which showed she had searched for different types of poisons. This evidence was ultimately barred from the trial, adding yet another layer of complexity to the already shocking case.

Following Patterson’s recent conviction, Justice Beale emphasized the importance of open justice, rejecting the defense team's arguments that releasing pre-trial material could harm Patterson’s appeal rights. “Open justice is a fundamental concern of our criminal justice jurisdiction,” he stated, paving the way for the public to remain informed.

As Erin Patterson faces sentencing, she has 28 days to consider an appeal, though she has not yet indicated whether she will pursue one. Throughout the proceedings, she has maintained her innocence, with her defense labeling the tragic deaths as a “terrible accident.” The court is set to reconvene on August 25 for a two-day plea hearing, where victim impact statements will be shared, adding yet more emotional weight to this gripping case.