The sole survivor of an Australian woman’s poison plot has told the triple murderer he forgives her, as a judge deliberates over whether the killer will spend the rest of her life in prison.

Ian Wilkinson, who nearly died after eating a beef wellington laced with death cap mushrooms in 2023, faced Erin Patterson on Monday for the first time since she was found guilty last month of his attempted murder and the murders of his wife, Heather, and Gail and Don Patterson, her husband’s parents.

“I make an offer of forgiveness to Erin,” Mr Wilkinson said.

“In regards to the murder of Heather, Gail and Don, I am compelled to seek justice.

“However, I encourage Erin to receive my offer of forgiveness for those harms done to me.”

Mr Wilkinson said he had been unable to sleep as he continued to “carry a heavy burden of grief over [the] untimely death” of his wife of 44 years.

“It’s a truly horrible thought to live with that somebody could choose to take her life,” he said.