CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
It’s the story that has captured the attention of the nation. And one that will be coming to cinema screens near you very soon.
A true crime mystery taking place in real time. The initial shock, the hard-nosed police work, followed by the twists and turns of a breathtaking court room drama.
It’s a story of tragedy, betrayal and deceit. One that has completely drowned out any other Australia news, including a Federal Election that took place in the centre of the trial.
For months, journalists – and the weirdo members of the public who took half a year off work to attend the open court hearings, have been sworn to secrecy.
Until now.
As of several hours ago, a Supreme Court jury has found the rural Victorian woman at the centre of this story – Erin Patterson -guilty of murdering three members of her extended family by deliberately lacing a home cooked meal with poisonous death cap mushrooms.
Patterson, 50, had pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder. For years she has told police and the court, that the poisonous mushrooms were accidentally included in the now infamous beef wellington she served to four relatives in 2023.
More twists and turns will be reported in the coming days, as the suppression orders lift on the journalists who have been itching to report updated findings to the world. But for now, Australians can sleep easy knowing that one of the greatest criminal masterminds of the 21st century has been finally brought to justice.
It’s been a long, hard fought road to justice for the family members of those who died and the police.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Australia’s major streaming networks have been fighting to secure the rights to this thrilling tale of murder and lies.
After millions of dollars were put on offer for the rights to this story, the end result is that ABC 730 reporter Mike Lorigan has been approached to write the script – after diligently following the trial from start to finish at the Supreme Court of Victoria at Morwell.
Australian TV streamer, BINGE, will now begin immediate production of MUSHROOM KILLER – starring Jacki Weaver as Erin Patterson.
Other cast members include the veteran Aussie actors Shane Jacobson and Deborah Mailman playing warring legal representatives on either sides of the courtroom. Angus Sampson will also play a sexually perverted true crime buff who is nearly charged with contempt of court on multiple occasions after relentlessly sharing suppressed information to his podcast audience of 100 listeners.
The film is slated to be released in the lead up to the 2025 Christmas holidays.
