Australian court denies Erin Patterson appeal, imposes life without parole
Victoria's Court of Appeal upheld Erin Patterson's triple murder convictions and increased her sentence to life without parole for the deadly mushroom lunch.
The story in focus
Victoria's Court of Appeal dismissed Erin Patterson's appeal against three murder and one attempted murder convictions and granted prosecutors' appeal against her sentence, resentencing her to life without parole for the 2023 deadly beef wellington lunch.
- Patterson was convicted of murdering Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, and attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson.
- She had been sentenced to life with a 33-year non-parole period; the court found that term manifestly inadequate.
- The court described the offending as carefully planned and an extraordinary breach of trust.
- Patterson can seek leave to appeal to the High Court.
Appeal dismissed
The Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Lesley Taylor, Stephen McLeish and Peter Kidd, dismissed Patterson's appeal after granting leave on two of seven grounds. It found many grounds had no substance.
On the jury accommodation issue, the court called the situation plainly unfortunate but said there was no evidence of wrongdoing.
Sentence increased
The court upheld the Director of Public Prosecutions' appeal against sentence, ruling that the original 33-year non-parole period failed to reflect the calculated criminality of three murders and an attempted fourth.
It found Patterson sustained an intent to murder all four guests over three weeks and used an elaborate series of deceptions. She is one of few Victorian offenders sentenced to life without parole.
What did the Victorian Court of Appeal decide on Erin Patterson's appeals?
It dismissed her appeal against her convictions and granted the prosecution's sentence appeal, ruling that the original 33-year non-parole period was inadequate and imposing life without parole.
Sources & further reading
- Erin Patterson to die in prison after losing appeal against mushroom murder convictions ↗The Guardian
- Mushroom murderer fails to overturn convictions in Australian court challenge ↗BBC News
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