Accused triple murderer Erin Patterson has told a court she will plead not guilty and take the case to trial.
The 49-year-old mother-of-two returned to the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning.
Her barrister, Colin Mandy SC, confirmed to the court she was going to plead not guilty and face trial in the Supreme Court using the “fast-track” method.
Ms Patterson was arrested in November last year and charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.
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She is accused of murdering three guests at a fatal lunch three months earlier on July 29; Her ex-husband Simon Patterson’s parents Don and Gail and his Aunt Heather Wilkinson.
Two counts of attempted murder related to Ms Wilkinson’s husband, Korumburra pastor Ian Wilkinson, who survived after spending close to two months in hospital, and her ex-husband, who did not attend the lunch.
Police previously said the three deaths displayed symptoms of having eaten death cap mushrooms.
The last three counts of attempted murder relate to alleged attempts on Simon’s life in November 2021, May 2022 and September 2022.
Ms Patterson has repeatedly denied the allegations, releasing a statement in August last year before she was charged, to say she “had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved”.
At an earlier hearing two weeks ago, Magistrate Tim Walsh was told Ms Patterson wanted to have the case heard in her local community even if it delayed the hearing until next year.
“If it has to be next year, Ms Patterson is content to wait for that,” Mr Mandy said.
“It’s the proper venue… It’s not only a matter of principle and there are powerful reasons for the committal having to take place in the local community.”
At the hearing, Mr Walsh raised his concern the delay could mean she spent at least 15 months on remand despite Ms Patterson’s wishes.
“It won’t be in her local community, it will be in Morwell,” he said.
Mr Mandy responded that Morewell was close to his client’s Leongatha home “in the context of regional Victoria”.
The court was told many of the witnesses expected to be called to give evidence at the committal hearing, where Ms Patterson will be asked to enter pleas, were from the Leongatha area.
Prosecutor Sarah Lenthall told the court it was the Crown’s position that the hearing “should proceed as soon as possible”.