Australian prosecutors have lodged an appeal against the sentence handed down to Erin Patterson, labeling it “manifestly inadequate.” Patterson, 51, was recently sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 33 years, for the murders of three relatives and the attempted murder of another through a poisoned mushroom meal served at her home in Victoria in 2023. This term makes her ineligible for parole until her 80s.
The appeal, filed on the final day, argues that the sentence does not adequately reflect the severity of Patterson’s crimes. Her defense team has indicated an intention to appeal her conviction, although the grounds for this appeal have not yet been formally submitted. The legal team must persuade the Victorian appeal court that there were grounds for an appeal to be heard.
The case has garnered significant public and media attention, drawing journalists and documentarians from around the world to the small courthouse in Morwell, Victoria. Patterson’s actions led to the deaths of Don and Gail Patterson (her in-laws, both 70) and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson (66). Heather’s husband, Pastor Ian Wilkinson, survived the meal but continues to experience ongoing health issues. It was also revealed that Patterson’s estranged husband, Simon Patterson, had narrowly avoided attending the fatal lunch, having previously suffered severe illnesses from her meals, leading to a coma and multiple surgeries. He had long suspected his wife of attempting to poison him.
During the sentencing, Justice Christopher Beale acknowledged the extreme nature of Patterson’s crimes, but also cited her difficult prison conditions, including 15 months in solitary confinement and the likelihood of continued isolation due to her “major offender status,” as factors influencing his decision regarding parole eligibility. He noted her “notorious prisoner” status and the risks she might face from other inmates.