Thanks for joining us again today.

The jury has now been sent out to deliberate what has been a marathon of a trial. 

We don't know how long deliberations will take but our blog coverage on Erin Patterson's triple murder trial will continue when the jury reach its verdict.

The ABC has been in court every day of the trial hearings, but our colleagues have been hosting a podcast since well before the Supreme Court convened in Morwell.

Here's where you can access each episode:

The jury has been sent out to decide whether Erin Patterson is guilty or not guilty of the murders of Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, and the attempted murder of Heather's husband Ian. 

Here's everything you need to know about what happens next, and what the jury needs to consider when deciding its verdict. 

The jury will deliberate every Monday to Saturday from 10:30am until 4:15pm until a verdict is reached.

They can return to the courtroom with any questions they may have during that process. 

No-one knows how long it will take any jury to reach a verdict. 

Justice Beale gives some final directions to the jury.

"We'll bring you back into court if you haven't reached a verdict close to 4:15pm and you'll complete your work for the day," he says.

They've also been provided an index of Justice Beale's directions. 

"A reminder that whatever verdict you reach in relation to any of these offences, it must be a unanimous verdict," Justice Beale says.

After nine weeks of hearings, he then sends the jury out to begin its deliberations.

Justice Beale then gets the remaining jurors to take a separation oath or affirmation.

He says in the unlikely event the jurors are separated, this means they agree to not discuss with any person other than a member of the jury any matter relating to the trial or deliberations. 

The jury panel members have returned and the ballot has begun. 

One juror number is called out first and officially balloted off, before a second.

The numbers were picked out of a box at random before the two reserve jurors were walked out of the courtroom. 

Justice Beale explains that two members of the jury panel will be balloted off so that the total number of jurors deciding the verdict will be 12.

He thanks panel members for their time during this lengthy trial. 

"I don't know whether you'll feel relieved or frustrated, but be assured you have made an important contribution to the administration of justice by your presence on this jury," the judg says.

"I think the community would be very grateful too."

The judge reminds the panel that the members balloted off should not discuss any of the trial or anything that happened in the jury room during the trial with anyone, even though they are no longer part of the decision.  

He says all jurors involved will be given a dispensation for the next 15 years, which means they won't be called for jury duty during that period.

The jurors return to the jury room for a brief moment while Justice Beale has one final discussion with the prosecution and defence.

Jury members will be allowed to ask questions during their deliberations.

Justice Beale says there's one thing that must not be in a question before the court: the verdict that jurors are considering at that stage. 

 For example, if seven people are leaning one way and five the other, the judge does not want to know about it. 

"You should only discuss the case with each other and you should only do that when you are all together in the privacy of the jury room," he says. 

The judge turns now to the final part of his directions, which relate to arriving at a verdict.

Justice Beale directs the jury that its verdict must be unanimous in relation to each charge.

He tells the jury that this does not mean they must all reach their verdict the same way.

"No matter how you reach your verdict, you must all agree," he says. 

Once jury members have reached a unanimous verdict, they will push a buzzer and return to court.

The members will be sequestered as they deliberate Monday to Saturday, but they will not get to go home on Sunday. 

Their deliberation will take place during court hours.