Erin Patterson has officially pleaded not guilty to the murder and attempted murder of her family after serving beef Wellington allegedly laced with deadly mushrooms.

Patterson was charged in November last year with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.

These charges relate to the alleged murders of her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson and the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson.

The 49-year-old is also accused of the attempted murder of her estranged husband Simon Patterson with charges dating back to 2021.

Appearing via video-link in the Latrobe Valley Magistrate’s Court in Morwell on Tuesday, Patterson answered “not guilty your honour” to each of the eight charges read out by Magistrate Tim Walsh.

The defence initially sought to have the committal hearing heard in Morwell which would have seen her case delayed until 2025.

The case will now progress straight to a directions hearing in the Supreme Court in Melbourne on May 23.

Photo: DSC_0013 by Rachid H is available HERE and is used under a Creative Commons Licence. This image has not been modified.