Prosecutors in Australia are appealing the sentence given to Erin Patterson, the woman convicted of murdering three relatives with a fatal mushroom meal. The Department of Public Prosecutions has stated that the sentence, which included a minimum of 33 years before parole eligibility, is “manifestly inadequate.”
Patterson, 51, was handed a life sentence last month for the murders of Don and Gail Patterson (both 70) and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson (66) in 2023. The poisoning occurred after she served them beef Wellington containing death cap mushrooms at her home in Victoria. Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, survived the meal but continues to suffer from ongoing health issues related to the poisoning.
Her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, narrowly avoided the lunch, having cancelled his attendance at the last minute. He had reportedly grown suspicious of his wife due to previous incidents where he became severely ill after consuming her meals, even falling into a coma and undergoing multiple surgeries.
Patterson herself intends to appeal her conviction, although the grounds for this appeal have not yet been formally submitted. The significant public interest in the case has led to intense media coverage, with journalists and documentary makers flocking to the small town of Morwell, where the trial took place.
The judge, Justice Christopher Beale, acknowledged the severity of Patterson’s crimes, describing them as the “worst of their kind.” However, he cited the “harsh prison conditions” Patterson had faced, including extended periods in solitary confinement, as a factor influencing his sentencing decision. He noted that her status as a high-profile prisoner meant she would likely face ongoing risks and isolation within the correctional system.