Massive twist as mushroom chef Erin Patterson makes huge decision as she faces ... trends now
Erin Patterson will go straight to a jury trial after abandoning her attempts to hold a preliminary hearing in her local community.
Patterson officially pleaded not guilty to murdering her in-laws and estranged husband during a hearing before the LaTrobe Valley Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
The shock plea means Patterson will now go directly before the Supreme Court of Victoria where a jury will decide her fate.
Erin Patterson was dressed in a blue jumper during her court appearance via video link on Tuesday
Patterson had wanted to run her preliminary hearing close to her local community
Patterson, 48, showed no emotion as she answered 'not guilty your honour' eight times.
She appeared before Magistrate Tim Walsh via videolink from a conference room within Dame Phyllis Frost Centre.
Dressed in blue prison garb, Patterson appeared relaxed before entering her plea, chatting to a prison staffer about the number of reporters also on the videolink.
It had been anticipated Patterson would run a three-week preliminary hearing before her likely committal to the Supreme Court.
Preliminary hearings are often run by accused killers in an effort to allow their legal teams to test evidence it is put before a jury.
It is understood her ex-husband Simon Patterson was likely to have been among the witnesses called at that hearing.
Last month, the court heard Patterson had been determined to run a preliminary hearing at the Morwell Magistrates' Court despite it being unable to be accommodated until next year.
Magistrate Walsh told Mr Mandy then he could not accommodate the preliminary hearing this year as the court was fully booked out.
'I'm not content to wait Mr Mandy because I don't think it's fair on your client,' he told him.
Don and Gail Patterson died after eating an allegedly poisoned meal at Erin Patterson's home
Mr Mandy insisted those were Patterson's own instructions and he was determined to see them
