Woman on trial for mushroom murders says she was trying to improve ‘bland’ lunch

Erin Patterson is accused of serving her ex-husband’s family poisonous mushrooms. Picture: James Ross/AAP Image via AP

An Australian woman accused of murdering three of her estranged husband’s relatives with poisonous mushrooms told a court she had been trying to improve a ‘bland’ recipe for them.

Before Erin Patterson’s in-laws and their relatives arrived at her home for lunch, she bought expensive ingredients, consulted friends about recipes and sent her children out to see a film.