Source : Perth Now news
The husband of a woman accused of triple murder says the family continued to go on overseas holidays after their separation.
Simon Patterson spent an entire day in the witness box at the Latrobe Valley Courts in Morwell on Thursday, detailing his “up and down” marriage with Erin Patterson.
Patterson, 50, has pleaded not guilty to three charges of murder over the deaths of Simon’s parents Ian and Gail Patterson and his aunty Heather Wilkinson.
She has also pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of his uncle, and local pastor, Ian Wilkinson – who survived the meal after also being very unwell.
Simon said he and Patterson had separated and reunited several times over the years from their marriage in 2007 until they split permanently in 2015.
After their separation, the pair continued to go on family holidays with their two children to places including South Africa, Botswana, Darwin, New Zealand and South Australia, defence barrister Colin Mandy SC told the court on Thursday.
Simon broke down as he described seeing his mother and father inside a hospital after Patterson fed them a poisoned beef Wellington at her home in July 2023.
“Dad was substantially worse than mum, he was really struggling,” Simon said, before crying in court.
“He wasn’t right inside. He was feeling pain.”
Simon had declined an invitation from Erin to attend the lunch because he said he felt “too uncomfortable”, the jury was told.
He said Patterson had “appeared” to have a good relationship with his parents, particularly Don as they both had “inquiring, curious minds”.
Simon will take the stand again on Friday morning as Mr Mandy continues his cross-examination.
The trial before Justice Christopher Beale continues.
