Woman jailed for mushroom poison murders given harsher sentence
Summary
An Australian appeals court rejected Erin Patterson’s challenge to her convictions and ruled she must serve life in prison without parole for poisoning her husband’s relatives with death cap mushrooms. The court also upheld prosecutors’ appeal against her earlier 33-year minimum term, citing the severity and planning involved in the crimes.Key Facts
- Patterson was convicted of murdering Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, and attempting to murder Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson.
- The poisonings followed a family lunch at Patterson’s home in Leongatha, Victoria, in July 2023.
- The Victoria Court of Appeal dismissed Patterson’s appeal against her convictions.
- The court agreed with prosecutors that Patterson should have no possibility of parole.
- Patterson had previously received three life sentences for murder and a 25-year sentence for attempted murder, with a 33-year minimum period before parole consideration.
- Justice Stephen McLeish said the crimes involved sustained intent and an elaborate series of deceptions.
- Patterson said she added the death cap mushrooms accidentally.
- Australia’s High Court is Patterson’s final appeal option.
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