Erin Patterson, 50, is currently on trial for the alleged shock murders of her lover Simon Patterson’s parents Don and Gail Patterson. She is even charged with murdering Simon’s aunt, Heather Wilkinson. She’s charged with trying to kill Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband. The case has been widely covered by national media. It’s the shocking allegations as well as the nuanced, often contradictory nature of her relationship with Simon Patterson that fuels this salacious storytelling.
In the proceedings, Simon Patterson testified that Erin turned “very hostile” after a monetary disagreement involving their children. Erin’s transition to co-manager turned ugly when she contacted Simon’s parents regarding financial matters. Simon likened this scenario to an ongoing war, exacerbated by antagonistic rhetoric traded in private group chats.
Simon explained that Erin’s communication style changed drastically when it came to these conflicts. “Yeah, I can remember a couple of very inflammatory messages to Mum and Dad, and to the group that I was in about that,” he stated in court. The continued animosity and tirade from the estranged spouse added to the emotional bombshell. Erin’s emotional response was perhaps most powerful when she found out that she was included for lunch as an “afterthought.”
The court was all ears as Erin poured out her weariness. She disclosed in a chain of messages, going back to October 2022, that she was an afterthought. This sense of being marginalized seemingly resulted in emotional responses that were exacerbated, as Simon testified in detail during his testimony. He noted that Erin’s recollection of their December 2022 chat was “overall pretty fuzzy.” This makes one doubt the veracity of her memory of the events in question.
Erin Patterson was deeply engaged with her community. As she co-managed the live-feed during each service at Korumburra Baptist Church every second week, her ability to live between worlds clashed with the aggressive assertions of family loyalty. This side of her life paints the picture of a woman who was really engaged with her community. It’s a complete contradiction to the grave charges she currently faces.
In January 2023, the court heard how Erin organised a spectacular beef wellington lunch. She opened up her home in Leongatha, South Gippsland to welcome guests. Yet, regardless of what happened, this meeting raises serious questions about her judgment. It introduces doubt regarding her relationships with family members leading up to the supposed murders.