Former Australian police detective Duncan McNab believes convicted killer Erin Patterson never expected anyone to survive her deadly Beef Wellington lunch, which killed three members of her estranged husband’s family in 2023.
Speaking to state-funded media, McNab said Patterson, a true crime obsessive with 400 books and constant podcast listening, meticulously planned the poisoning using death cap mushrooms she likely foraged nearby but made crucial mistakes that led to her capture.
Evidence showed she lied about owning a dehydrator later found with mushroom traces and faked a cancer diagnosis to lure her victims. McNab, who covered the trial in his book Recipe for Murder, described Patterson as a habitual liar who viewed others as “inconveniences to be removed.”
So much of this makes no sense to me, at least. Why murder people like this? How to cover it up?
For generations the west has favoured one gender. However this is a rare moment where a woman was prosecuted for the murder of family members and given a lenthy sentance. This is more astonishing than the tearful cock and bull story she gave to defend herself.
It is long past due for for an open debate about the true gender inequality. On this occasion the officer in charge is to be commended to be brave enough to make an example of her.