Australian woman Erin Patterson was found guilty on Monday, of murdering three of her estranged husband’s relatives and attempting to murder a fourth by deliberately serving them poisonous death cap mushrooms during a lunch at her home in Leongatha, Victoria, in 2023.

The verdict, which required unanimous agreement, was reached after six days of jury deliberation. Patterson faces life in prison, with sentencing yet to be scheduled.

The victims were Patterson’s parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, who all died after consuming beef Wellington pastries laced with the toxic mushrooms. Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, survived after spending weeks in the hospital.

During the nine-week trial, the prosecution argued that Patterson intentionally picked death cap mushrooms after seeing their locations posted on the citizen science website iNaturalist. She then dehydrated and powdered the mushrooms before concealing them in the individually served pastries. Patterson was the only one who did not consume a tainted portion, and she attempted to feign illness to avoid suspicion. Prosecutors also alleged she tried to cover up her actions by disposing of a food dehydrator and deleting electronic evidence.

Patterson’s defense claimed the inclusion of the poisonous mushrooms was accidental, asserting that she had unknowingly used foraged mushrooms to enhance the flavor of the meal. However, the 12-member jury unanimously rejected this argument, concluding that Patterson had intentionally poisoned her guests.

The prosecution highlighted strained relations between Patterson and her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, who was invited to the lunch but did not attend. They also pointed to Patterson’s alleged "two faces"—one publicly showing a good relationship with her in-laws and the other revealing private frustrations and resentment.

SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced the formation of the "America Party" over the weekend, following a poll on his social media platform X, where users supported the creation of a new political party by a 2-to-1 margin.

The Tesla CEO criticized both Democrats and Republicans, accusing them of contributing to national decline and stated, "When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy."  The announcement came after Musk's public break with President Donald Trump over the latter's "Big, Beautiful" tax bill, which Musk claims would dangerously inflate the federal deficit.

Musk's new party aims to target 2–3 Senate seats and 8–10 House districts to act as a swing bloc in Congress, with the goal of serving as the deciding vote on contentious laws, ensuring they serve the true will of the people.

The America Party has been officially registered in California with the Federal Election Commission on July 6, but Musk has not announced leadership details, a party platform, or plans to field candidates.

Trump responded to Musk's announcement, calling it "ridiculous" and asserting that the U.S. has always been a two-party system, suggesting that a third party would only add to confusion.

"I think it's ridiculous to start a third party. We have a tremendous success with the Republican party," Trump told reporters' Sunday. "The Democrats have lost their way, but it's always been a two party system, and I think starting a third party just adds to the confusion. It really seems to have been developed for two parties. Third parties have never worked, so he can have fun with it but I think it’s ridiculous."

In a long post on Truth Social, Trump also suggested that Musk is angry because government electric vehicle mandate was removed from the 'Big Beautiful Bill' which congress passed recently and Trump signed into law on July 4.

Trump wrote, “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely “off the rails,” essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks. He even wants to start a Third Political Party, despite the fact that they have never succeeded in the United States - The System seems not designed for them.

"The one thing Third Parties are good for is the creation of Complete and Total DISRUPTION & CHAOS, and we have enough of that with the Radical Left Democrats, who have lost their confidence and their minds! Republicans, on the other hand, are a smooth running “machine,” that just passed the biggest Bill of its kind in the History of our Country.

"It is a Great Bill but, unfortunately for Elon, it eliminates the ridiculous Electric Vehicle (EV) Mandate, which would have forced everyone to buy an Electric Car in a short period of time. I have been strongly opposed to that from the very beginning. People are now allowed to buy whatever they want - Gasoline Powered, Hybrids (which are doing very well), or New Technologies as they come about - No more EV Mandate.

"I have campaigned on this for two years and, quite honestly, when Elon gave me his total and unquestioned Endorsement, I asked him whether or not he knew that I was going to terminate the EV Mandate - It was in every speech I made, and in every conversation I had. He said he had no problems with that - I was very surprised! Additionally, Elon asked that one of his close friends run NASA and, while I thought his friend was very good, I was surprised to learn that he was a blue blooded Democrat, who had never contributed to a Republican before.

"Elon probably was, also. I also thought it inappropriate that a very close friend of Elon, who was in the Space Business, run NASA, when NASA is such a big part of Elon’s corporate life. My Number One charge is to protect the American Public!”

Both left-wing and conservative influencers online pan the announcement, arguing that Musk, while good with building innovative technologies, is clueless on how party politics work and should have instead focused on electing great candidates within the Republican and Democrat party primaries.

Despite Musk's intentions to challenge the entrenched two-party system, experts note that breaking the Republican-Democratic duopoly will be a tall order, given its dominance over American political life for more than 160 years.