Mushroom murder trial: So, it begins

NINETEEN months after Erin Patterson was charged with three counts of murder and one of attempted murder, arising out of an incident at Leongatha in July 2023, her trial is set to begin in the Supreme Court in Morwell tomorrow.

There has been and continues to be intense interest in the case.

Upwards of 40 representatives of media outlets, from Australia and overseas, have already assembled in the town ahead of the start to the trial proper.

It is also expected that the people and places involved in the events will have particular interest to the community of South Gippsland.

Strict rules are in force about how the case between the Crown and Erin Trudi Patterson, 50, of Leongatha may be reported during the course of the trial to the effect that all details released publicly prior to the trial must be set aside and only those details presented before the jury can be published.

Prior to the start of the trial proper on Wednesday, the court dealt with some administrative matters on Monday and will move on to the empanelment of the jury on Tuesday.

The trial, before His Honour Justice Beale, is set to commence at 10.30am on Wednesday, April 30 with opening remarks by Dr Nanette Rogers SC for the prosecution and Mr Colin Mandy SC for the defence.