Mushroom monster's evil bid for freedom crushed
Supreme Court of Victoria Justice Christopher Beale sentenced Patterson to life in prison on September 8, 2025, but set a non-parole period of 33 years.
TL;DR
- Erin Patterson's appeal against her murder convictions for poisoning three relatives has failed.
- Her sentence has been changed from life with a 33-year non-parole period to life without parole.
- Patterson was found guilty of murdering Don and Gail Patterson and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson by feeding them poisonous beef Wellingtons.
- She was also convicted of attempting to murder Heather's husband, Pastor Ian Wilkinson.
- Patterson's appeal focused on claims of jury contamination due to sequestration in the same hotel as police and prosecutors.
- The judges found no basis for the jury contamination claims.
- Patterson is the second woman in Australian history to be sentenced to life without parole.
- Her former husband, Simon Patterson, alleged she had repeatedly tried to poison him prior to the mass poisoning incident.
- Patterson's home will be sold to compensate victims.
- Her legal team intends to appeal to the High Court.