MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A woman accused of serving her ex-husband’s family poisonous mushrooms pleaded not guilty in an Australian court on Tuesday to three charges of murder and five charges of attempted murder. Erin Patterson, 49, appeared briefly in Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court by video link from a Melbourne prison, where she has been held since her arrest in November last year. She is accused of killing her former parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail Patterson’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66. All three died in a hospital days after consuming a meal at Patterson’s home in July. She pleaded not guilty to all charges and will appear at Victoria state’s Supreme Court in Melbourne for the first time on May 23. Proceedings have been fast-tracked after Patterson dispensed with a committal hearing where a magistrate would have examined the prosecution’s case to ensure there is sufficient evidence to warrant a jury trial. |
Stabbing at Sydney mall kills 6 before suspect is shot dead, police sayStrike takes place in Jordan to support Palestinian people in GazaKowalczyk's first career goal sends Dynamo past Minnesota United 2Sex crimes charges dropped against California Marine after missing teen found in barracksSex crimes charges dropped against California Marine after missing teen found in barracksIn politically riven Pennsylvania, primary voters will pick candidates in presidential contest yearU.S. halts freight railway crossings in western Texas to address influx of migrantsIraqi president visits Cyprus for 1st timeAt least three people dead in shooting on university campus in Las VegasDubois, Roy end long goal droughts to propel Kings to 3