Erin Patterson ‘not on trial for being a liar’, defence says, as jury asked to consider key questions

<p>Murder accused’s barrister also warns jurors against using ‘dangerous and seductive’ hindsight reasoning to find mushroom lunch cook guilty</p><ul><li><p><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">Who are Erin Patterson and the other key figures in Australia’s mushroom murders trial?</a></p></li></ul><p>Erin Patterson’s barrister has asked the jury to consider whether it’s more likely “that she wanted to kill everyone or wanted to reconnect with her family for the sake of her children”, as he continues his <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/17/erin-patterson-mushroom-lunch-trial-australia-closing-address-defence-ntwnfb">closing address in her triple-murder trial</a>.</p><p>Colin Mandy SC also told the jury at the Latrobe Valley law courts in Morwell that Patterson is “not on trial for being a liar”, and warned jurors against using “dangerous and seductive” hindsight reasoning to find her guilty.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/18/erin-patterson-mushroom-lunch-trial-australia-colin-mandy-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>