By Sohaib Shams
Australian woman Erin Patterson has lost her appeal against convictions for murdering three relatives with a death cap mushroom-laced meal, and the court has ruled she will never be eligible for parole.
Appeal Rejected, Non-Parole Period Removed
Victoria’s Court of Appeal on Friday dismissed Patterson’s challenge to her three murder convictions and one attempted murder conviction. The three-judge panel also agreed with prosecutors that her original life sentence with a 33-year non-parole period was inadequate, removing any possibility of release. Justice Peter Kidd described the crimes as “extraordinarily cold and calculated” and said they must be “denounced in the strongest terms.”
Details of the 2023 Poisoning
In 2023, Patterson, 51, served individual portions of beef Wellington containing death cap mushrooms to her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson at her home in rural Victoria. All three died. Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, a local pastor, survived after weeks in hospital but suffers ongoing health issues. Patterson’s estranged husband, Simon Patterson, had been expected to attend but cancelled at the last minute, later stating he believed his wife had tried to poison him repeatedly over several years.
Appeal Arguments Dismissed
Patterson’s legal team raised seven grounds for appeal, including a hotel booking error that placed jurors in the same accommodation as the prosecution, a key police witness, and media. They also argued that certain evidence, such as cell tower data and Facebook posts, was prejudicial, while evidence of her mushroom foraging hobby was wrongly excluded. The defence further claimed the prosecution’s five-day cross-examination was “unfair and oppressive.” The appeal judges rejected all seven grounds.
Next Steps
Patterson has 28 days to decide whether to apply to the High Court of Australia for a further appeal.
