Only one person survived a lunch that was served laced with poisonous mushrooms, and he has paid tribute to his 'beautiful wife' who died after eating the meal.
Ian Wilkinson gave an emotional statement in court in Melbourne, Australia, where Erin Patterson had been standing trial for the murder of three people.
Wilkinson, a pastor, was speaking at Patterson's pre-sentencing hearing when he made a shocking statement to the murderer.
Erin had made a beef Wellington lunch and had cooked it with the world's deadliest funghi, the death cap mushroom, before inviting her estranged husband's relatives over for dinner.
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Mr Wilkinson attended with his wife, Heather Wilkinson, 66, and Erin's former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, both 70.
Ian was left in an induced coma for weeks after the poisoning.
The murders took place in July 2023, and Patterson denied the three murder charges and one of attempted murder, but the jury found her guilty on all counts and she now faces life in prison.
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Ian Wilkinson bravely spoke to the court as he sat across from his wife's murderer.
According to the BBC, he said his beloved late wife was 'compassionate, intelligent, brave, witty – simply a beautiful person who loved sharing life with others’.
He added that Heather had a 'great sense of humour and it was a joy to be in her company’ and that he 'only feels half alive without her.'
The bereaved pastor explained: "I’m suddenly single, [experiencing] the heartbreak of having to wind up her affairs, return to pastoral work without her sage advice."
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A deeply religious man, he said his only ‘consolation’ was that they would be ‘reunited in the resurrection and the age to come.’
He added: "She loved our children and believed her greatest work was to raise them to be good people.
"The trauma they experienced…has left deep wounds. I’m deeply grieved by their ongoing pain."
He also said Don and Gail Patterson were ‘good and solid people'.
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The court was shocked when he told Patterson he offers his forgiveness.
"What foolishness could lead someone to think murder could be the solution to her problems?", saying he only bears her good will.
He said while he was 'compelled to seek justice’ but offered forgiveness to gasps in the court.
"‘I bear her no ill will. My prayer for her is that she uses her time in jail wisely to become a better person.
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"Now I am no longer Erin Patterson’s victim. She has become the victim of my kindness."
Patterson reportedly became extremely emotional at this.
A statement was also read out by a spokesman from Patterson’s estranged husband, Simon Patterson.
He was actually invited to the lunch, but he decided not to go at the last minute.
He said: "I miss my parents and aunt more than words can express, I am faithful, however, they are with God and I will see them again.
"Praise God that at least Ian miraculously survived…[and is] living an exceptional life, as he always has.
"My two children are left without grandparents…they have also been robbed of hope, of the kind of relationship with their mother that children naturally dream of.
"Like all of us, they face the daunting challenge of trying to comprehend what she has done.
"The grim reality is they live in an irreparably broken home with a solo parent, when almost everybody knows their mother murdered their grandparents."
The prosecution has pushed for Patterson to be jailed for life without parole.
Her defence lawyer, Colin Mandy, also agreed that her sentence could not be ‘anything other than life in prison’.
She is due to be sentenced on September 8.
Topics: Crime, True Life, True Crime, Australia, Erin Patterson
Jen Thomas