Erin Patterson, the woman accused of serving her ex-husband's family poisonous mushrooms, is photographed in Melbourne, Australia, on April 15, 2025. (James Ross/AAP Image via AP) The Associated Press

WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Before Erin Patterson’s in-laws and their relatives arrived at her home for lunch, she bought pricey ingredients, consulted friends about recipes and sent her children out to a movie.

Then, the Australian woman served them a dish containing poisonous death cap mushrooms — a meal that was fatal for three of her four guests .

Whether that was Patterson’s plan is at the heart of a triple murder trial that has gripped Australia for nearly six weeks.

Prosecutors in the Supreme Court case in the state of Victoria say the accused lured her guests to lunch with

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