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. |
Rizzo hits 300th HR and Judge and Volpe also go deep in Yankees' 15Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla says playoff basketball doesn't change much from regular seasonBritain's Got Talent air guitarist Sven Smith stuns judges as he narrowly avoids XVientos hits 2Lyon to face Barcelona in the Women's Champions League final after ousting PSGTwins pound out 17 hits, claim their seventh straight win with an 11New charges announced against 4 youths arrested in gunfire at event to mark end of RamadanCaitlyn Jenner, 74, and longtime gal pal Sophia Hutchins, 26, match up in black as they attend starHawaii military family sues over jet fuel leak into Navy water systemSenzel homers twice, Nationals erase 7