Child protection worker reveals what Erin Patterson told her in wake of fatal mushroom lunch

<p>Katrina Cripps tells Victorian trial that murder accused spoke of husband turning ‘nasty’ and motivation for hosting lunch with in-laws </p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/may/15/erin-patterson-trial-live-alleged-mushroom-murder-case-austarlian-woman-day-12-ntwnfb">Erin Patterson trial LIVE</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/01/who-is-erin-patterson-australia-woman-key-figures-mushroom-murders-trial-simon-don-gail-victoria-ntwnfb">Key figures in the mushroom lunch trial</a></li></ul><p>A child protection worker said that Erin Patterson described her estranged husband, Simon, as “nasty”, “controlling” and “emotionally abusive”, and believed he was isolating her from his parents, a Victorian court has heard.</p><p>The worker also said Patterson did not answer her the following day when she asked whether she had picked <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/14/death-cap-mushroom-poisoning-erin-patterson-trial-ntwnfb">the mushrooms used in the lunch</a>.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/15/child-protection-worker-erin-patterson-mushroom-lunch-murder-trial-ntwntfb">Continue reading...</a>