Erin Patterson prepares for mushroom murders appeal ruling to learn if she could face retrial or longer jail term
Summary
Victoria’s Court of Appeal is due to rule on Erin Patterson’s challenge to her convictions for murdering three people and attempting to murder a fourth. Prosecutors have separately appealed her life sentence, seeking a longer period before she can apply for parole; the court’s decision could also lead to a retrial or an acquittal.Key Facts
- Patterson was sentenced to life in prison with a 33-year non-parole period for three murders.
- The victims were Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, who ate a mushroom-laced beef Wellington at Patterson’s lunch.
- Patterson was also convicted of attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson, Heather Wilkinson’s husband, who survived.
- Patterson has appealed her convictions on seven grounds, including arguments about how jurors were housed during deliberations.
- Her lawyers also argued that the trial judge wrongly excluded photos and videos related to mushrooms found on an SD card in her home.
- The director of public prosecutions appealed the sentence, arguing it was too lenient and seeking a longer non-parole period.
- Possible outcomes include dismissal of Patterson’s appeal, a retrial, an acquittal, or resentencing by the Court of Appeal.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
