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AAP
AAP
National
Tara Cosoleto

Accused triple murderer faces long wait in custody

Erin Patterson, 49, of Leongatha is charged with several counts of murder and attempted murder. (HANDOUT/NINE NEWS)

An accused triple murderer faces a six-month wait behind bars so police can analyse equipment seized from her home.

Erin Patterson, 49, appeared before Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court in Victoria on Friday after she was charged with three counts of murder.

She was also charged with five counts of attempted murder, four of which relate to her ex-husband.

The police prosecutor sought a 20-week adjournment so detectives could analyse computer equipment seized from her Leongatha home on Thursday.

The magistrate allowed the longer-than-usual time frame and Patterson was remanded in custody ahead of her next hearing date on May 3.

She was not required to enter pleas and was unable to apply for bail, as accused murderers in Victoria can only do so in the Supreme Court.

Heather Wilkinson, left, and Don and Gail Patterson.
Police allege Patterson murdered Heather Wilkinson (left) and former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson.

Police allege she killed her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66.

All three died in hospital days after consuming a meal at Patterson's Leongatha home on July 29.

She is also accused of attempting to murder Ms Wilkinson's husband Ian, 68, who spent close to two months in hospital critically ill and is still in recovery.

Police will allege she first attempted to murder her ex-husband Simon Patterson between November 16 and 17, 2021.

She is accused of again attempting to murder him twice in 2022 - between May 25 and 27 and on September 6 - and at the July 29 lunch.

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