An Australian lady, who was sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole interval of 33 years for poisoning four and killing three of her estranged husband’s relatives with demise cap mushrooms, has filed an enchantment to overturn her conviction.
In July, a jury discovered Erin Patterson, 52, guilty of murdering three relatives of her estranged husband and making an attempt to homicide a fourth within the state of Victoria in 2023.
Patterson will likely be 82 years previous when she turns into eligible for parole in November 2056, however paperwork launched Wednesday by the Supreme Court docket of Victoria confirmed Patterson filed an utility for depart to enchantment her conviction on Monday.
Within the paperwork, viewed by Reuters, the seven grounds of enchantment included {that a} “basic irregularity” occurred whereas the jury was sequestered. Native media, citing the courtroom, reported the jurors stayed in the identical resort as police and prosecutors for almost all of their deliberations.
“That has fatally undermined the integrity of the verdicts and requires the quashing of the convictions and an order for a re-trial in order that justice can not solely be carried out however be seen to be carried out,” the paperwork stated.
Patterson additionally claimed that numerous items of proof launched, together with cell tower location information and messages from Fb associates, had been “unfairly prejudicial” or “irrelevant.”
Moreover, Patterson claimed a “substantial miscarriage of justice occurred” because of the prosecution’s “unfair and oppressive” cross-examination of her when she gave proof over the a number of days of the trial.
She steered the prosecution’s opening and shutting arguments additionally brought on a “substantial miscarriage of justice,” as a result of they launched a motive for homicide throughout their closing handle however the Crown opened its case alleging no motive.
Get day by day Nationwide information
Get the day’s prime information, political, financial, and present affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox as soon as a day.
Patterson additionally claimed that Justice Christopher Beale, who was the decide appointed to her trial, had “erred” by not permitting photographs and movies “associated to mushrooms” that had been discovered at Patterson’s home to be put earlier than the jury.
The enchantment paperwork says that Patterson is a prisoner at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre and doesn’t wish to attend the enchantment listening to in particular person, however would favor a video look as a substitute.
The state of Victoria’s Court docket of Attraction stated that whereas Patterson’s enchantment had been lodged, it had not but been accepted as of Wednesday.
Patterson was convicted of killing her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Donald Patterson and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson in a case that gripped the nation and drew worldwide consideration for its uncommon circumstances.
The jury of 12 discovered she lured them to lunch at her dwelling in Leongatha, a city of about 6,000 folks, and poisoned them with beef Wellingtons containing demise cap mushrooms.
She was additionally discovered responsible of the tried homicide of Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband, who survived the 2023 meal.
Beale advised the Victoria state Supreme Court docket that Patterson’s crimes concerned an infinite betrayal of belief.
“Your victims had been all of your relations by marriage. Greater than that, they’d all been good to you and your youngsters over a few years, as you acknowledged in your testimony,” Beale stated.
“Not solely did you narrow quick three lives and trigger lasting injury to Ian Wilkinson’s well being, thereby devastating prolonged Patterson and Wilkinson households, you inflicted untold struggling by yourself youngsters, whom you robbed of their beloved grandparents,” Beale added.
The decide advised Patterson that solely she is aware of “why you dedicated” the crimes.
Patterson confirmed little emotion throughout her sentencing listening to in September and stored her eyes closed for a lot of it.
Prosecution and defence legal professionals each agreed {that a} life sentence was an applicable punishment for Patterson on three counts of homicide and considered one of tried homicide.
Defence legal professionals had requested for Patterson to turn into eligible for parole after serving 30 years however prosecutors argued she ought to by no means be thought of for parole as a result of she didn’t deserve the courtroom’s mercy.
In Canada, demise cap mushrooms are present in many of B.C.’s forests however might also be present in metropolis environments related to many species of imported bushes. In keeping with the B.C. Centre for Illness Management, the mushrooms have been noticed on Vancouver Island and within the Decrease Mainland.
Demise cap mushrooms look much like widespread puffball mushrooms, however ought to by no means be eaten. Should you suspect you might have consumed a demise cap mushroom, you must search emergency medical care instantly.
Signs of being poisoned by a demise cap mushroom embrace low blood stress, nausea and vomiting.
— With recordsdata from Reuters
© 2025 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
