By Emily Woods in Morwell

THE  woman accused of murdering three people by allegedly serving them death cap mushrooms at her home has faced court in Victoria.

Erin Patterson, 49, has been charged with three counts of murder and five of attempted murder, after four people fell ill during a lunch at her home in Leongatha home in South Gippsland in July.

Media filled three rows of seating, as she appeared in Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court on Friday morning for a brief hearing.

Flanked by two custody officers in safety glasses, Patterson showed no emotion as she sat in the custody dock on the side of the courtroom.

“Morning Ms Patterson,” Magistrate Tim Walsh said, as he started the hearing.

“Morning,” she replied.

Prosecutor Acting Sergeant Greg Ellis asked the court for 20 weeks to prepare and serve a brief of evidence on Patterson’s lawyers.

“There needs to be analysis of computer equipment seized yesterday,” he told the court.

The magistrate appeared annoyed and questioned why it would take “20 weeks to analyse computer equipment in a triple murder, where the informant is confident he had enough evidence to charge this lady yesterday?”

Defence lawyer Bill Doogue, who said he had been engaged with Patterson “for a while”, agreed to the delay.

“It seems to be based on a lot of analysis that we haven’t received and hasn’t even been completed, which is why they’re asking for extra time,” he said.

Magistrate Tim Walsh explained to Patterson that the matters they were discussing were administrative.

“So don’t be too concerned alright, the important thing is this matter progresses through the system as fast as possible,” he told her.

“Okay,” she replied, nodding her head.

Both defence and the prosecution tried to move the matter to Melbourne, but Mr Walsh decided to set down the next hearing at the Morwell court.

“I imagine the materials are going to be voluminous, and that it does go to Melbourne so that a particular magistrate can manage the matter,” he said.

Mr Doogue said Patterson did not have any custody management issues.

She was remanded in custody to next face court on May 3.

Heather Wilkinson, 66, her sister Gail Patterson and brother-in-law Don Patterson, both 70, all died after the meal, on July 29 this year.

Ms Wilkinson’s husband Ian, 68, spent close to two months in hospital critically ill and is still in recovery.

Police allege the additional three attempted murder charges relate to three separate incidents in Victoria between 2021 and 2022.

Patterson’s two children were at home during the lunch, but did not eat the same meal.