I’m an ex-detective – I know how cops are probing ‘deadly mushroom’ case…and the twist that could land a MURDER charge

A FORMER detective has revealed how cops will be investigating the poisonous mushroom lunch.

Three people were killed after they allegedly ate deadly fungi served by Erin Patterson at her home in Leongatha, Australia.

The mum, 48, invited Gail and Don Patterson, her former in-laws, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson and her husband Ian to her house for dinner.

It's claimed she held the deadly gathering on July 29 in a bid to try and win back her estranged ex-husband Simon Patterson.

After eating the meal on July 29, the guests became violently ill and Gail and Don, both 70, and Heather, 66, later died.

Homicide detectives confirmed Erin is a suspect in the mystery case as the mum-of-two cooked the meal at her home - but did not get sick.

Charlie Bezzina, who served in the Victorian Homicide Squad for 17 years, said cops will be sifting through Erin's history as they try to unravel the mystery.

He told : "It'll be a matter of history to see whether this person who prepared their meal has done it before and (are there) other people around her that will support her story in relation to how she did it, why she did it, has she done it in the past

"Did she collect the mushrooms? Were they collected by somebody else? Were they purchased from somewhere else?

"These are all the things you got to look at, as to how the whole incident occurred, because these are three unnatural deaths that shouldn't have happened."

Mr Bezzina says if charges were to be laid, it would more likely be for manslaughter rather than for murder.

Erin has categorically denied any wrongdoing and wept outside her home on Monday as she spoke to reporters.

"I didn’t do anything," she said. "I loved them and I’m devastated they are gone.

"Gail was like the mum I didn’t have because my mum passed away four years ago, Gail had never been anything but good and kind to me.

"Ian and Heather were some of the best people I’d ever met. They never did anything wrong to me."

But Mr Bezzina said a twist could see a murder charge laid - if a confession is made.

He added: "(With) murder you've got to prove intent to kill, or cause grievous bodily harm or grievous bodily injury.

"Whereas manslaughter, you've got to prove either gross negligence or it was an unlawful and dangerous act.

"But I don't think it would stretch to murder unless they get a confession to say, 'yes, I intended to kill these people'."

Erin today broke cover as she was spotted withdrawing cash after reportedly going into hiding.

Confusion surrounded her whereabouts on Thursday after one of her lawyers was forced to camp outside her home to hand deliver legal instructions.

The man said it was the only way Erin could be reached after cops confiscated her phone and computer.