The court also heard on Wednesday that Erin Patterson had invented medical issues partly to elicit sympathy from her estranged husband’s relatives, from whom she said she felt she was growing apart.
“I didn’t want their care of me to stop, so I kept it going. I shouldn’t have done it,” she told the court.
“Did you lie to them?” Mandy asked.
“I did lie to them,” the accused replied, through tears. The prosecution alleges Patterson invented the medical issues to lure the victims to her home for the meal, a claim she denies.
The prosecution rested its case on Monday, following a month of evidence from witnesses, including relatives and medical, forensic and mushroom experts.
The trial, which began on Apr 29, has seen intense interest from Australian and international media, with podcasters, journalists and documentary-makers descending on the town of Morwell, around two hours east of Melbourne, where the trial is being held.
State broadcaster ABC’s daily podcast about proceedings is currently the most popular in the country, while many Australian newspapers have been running live blogs on the case.
The trial, scheduled to conclude this month, continues.
