Australian judge sentences Erin Patterson to life for mushroom murders

Patterson maintained during her trial that she had added foraged mushrooms to the meal by accident. Representational Pic

An Australian judge on Monday sentenced triple-murderer Erin Patterson to life in prison with a non-parole period of 33 years for poisoning four of her estranged husband's relatives with death cap mushrooms.

Justice Christopher Beale, delivering the sentence in Victoria's Supreme Court, said Patterson's crimes involved an "enormous betrayal of trust."

Patterson was convicted in July of murdering Don and Gail Patterson and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, by serving them beef Wellington pastries laced with foraged death cap mushrooms at a lunch in July 2023. She was also convicted of attempting to murder Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson, who spent weeks in hospital recovering.

Patterson's estranged husband, Simon Patterson, was invited to the lunch but did not attend.

"You robbed your children of their grandparents"

"Your victims were all your relatives by marriage. More than that, they had all been good to you and your children over many years, as you acknowledged in your testimony," Beale said during sentencing.

"Not only did you cut short three lives and cause lasting damage to Ian Wilkinson's health, thereby devastating the extended Patterson and Wilkinson families, you inflicted untold suffering on your own children, whom you robbed of their beloved grandparents."

Both the prosecution and defence had agreed that a life sentence was appropriate for the 50-year-old on three counts of murder and one of attempted murder.

However, while defence lawyers requested eligibility for parole after 30 years, prosecutors argued she should never be considered for parole, saying she did not deserve the court's mercy.

Survivor calls for kindness

Ian Wilkinson, the sole survivor of the poisoning, did not comment on the sentence but thanked the police, prosecutors, and health services.

"We're thankful that when things go wrong, there are good people and services and systems available to help us recover," he told reporters outside court.

"Our lives and the life of our community depend on the kindness of others. I'd like to encourage everybody to be kind to each other.
Finally, I want to say thank you to the many people from across Australia and around the world who, through their prayers and messages of support, have encouraged us."

Intent to kill estranged husband too

Justice Beale noted that Patterson had also intended to kill her estranged husband Simon Patterson, had he accepted the lunch invitation.

To bring the family together, she had falsely claimed to have been diagnosed with cancer, saying she wanted advice on how to tell their two children (who were not present at the lunch).

Beale accepted Ian Wilkinson's testimony that the guests were served grey plates, while Patterson ate from an orange-tan plate - a move meant to ensure she wouldn't accidentally consume the poisoned meal.

"Only you know why you committed these crimes"

"Only you know why you committed them. I will not be speculating about that matter," Beale told Patterson, who showed little emotion during the hearing, which lasted under an hour.
She kept her eyes closed for much of it or stared straight ahead.

Patterson maintained during her trial that she had added foraged mushrooms to the meal by accident.

Initially, she denied to authorities that the mushrooms were foraged. A specific antidote drug for death cap mushroom poisoning was not administered to the victims in time, contributing to their deaths.

Beale said he inferred from her "pitiless behaviour" that her intention to kill was ongoing.

No psychological reports, harsher prison conditions

Beale noted that no psychiatric or psychological reports were submitted during sentencing, and said he had no doubt Patterson instructed her lawyers not to provide such evidence.

Patterson has been in custody since November 2, 2023. Her sentence is backdated to that date. She has 28 days to appeal the conviction or the sentence.

Patterson, who turns 51 on September 30, will be 82 years old when eligible for parole in November 2056.

A case that gripped Australia

This case has drawn intense national and international attention. In an unprecedented move, the Victorian Supreme Court allowed the sentencing hearing to be broadcast live on television.

Due to the scale of media coverage, and the upcoming books, documentaries, and TV series related to the case, Patterson has been designated a "notorious prisoner", and is held in protective custody for her safety.

"I infer that, given the unprecedented media coverage of your case, and the books, documentaries and TV series about you which are all in the pipeline, you are likely to remain a notorious prisoner for many years to come, and, as such, remain at significant risk from other prisoners," Beale said.

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