Mushroom poisoner Erin Patterson sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 33 years

A woman who murdered three of her estranged husband’s relatives after she served them a beef wellington laced with poisonous mushrooms has been sentenced to life behind bars.

On July 29 2023 Erin Patterson, 50, invited her former parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail Patterson's sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66, over for lunch at her home in the town of Leongatha, a court heard

The mother-of-two, from the state of Victoria in southern Australia, was convicted at the Supreme Court trial in Victoria state after the jury returned a verdict after six days of deliberations, following a nine-week trial.

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A jury found Patterson guilty of murdering Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson. The jury also convicted Patterson of attempting to murder Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson. Today, at the same court, Justice Christopher Beale sentenced Patterson to life behind bars.

Prosecutors argued Patterson's breach of trust, use of poison as a weapon and planning of the poisonings all constitute aggravating factors. While the defence has argued Patterson's isolation in jail due to safety reasons has meant that her time behind bars has been particularly difficult and psychologically harsh, serving as a mitigating factor.

Justice Beale says Patterson's murders involved "substantial pre-meditation". He says Patterson invited the guests with the intention of killing them all. He added: "The motives for such murders may only ever be known to the offenders. Clearly, the jury was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that you committed the alleged offences. Only you know why you committed them. I will not be speculating about that matter."

Justice Beale says Erin Patterson betrayed the trust of those closest to her, saying: "Your offending involved an enormous betrayal of trust. 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."

He added: "Your failure to exhibit any remorse pours salt into all of the victims' wounds."

Summing up the hearing Justice Christopher Beale said: "Having regard to the aggravating circumstances of your offending and the victim impact statements, I have no hesitation in finding that your offending falls into the worst category for the offences of murder and attempted murder.

"The gravity of your offending warrants the imposition of the maximum penalties for your crimes."

Erin Patterson's conditions in prison

Justice Beale explained Patterson has a maximum security rating in jail due to her crimes and notoriety, putting her at "significant risk" from other prisoners. The court heard how Patterson is being kept in at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, where she spends about 22 hours a day in her cell. Patterson is not allowed to mix with other prisoners.

Her meals and medicines are delivered through a flap in her cell door, and in cases of a lockdown, she is kept in her cell for 24 hours a day. She has little contact with other individuals or with facilities such as the library.

Sentencing

Justice Beale sentenced Patterson to the following:

• Attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson: 25 years in prison.
• Murder of Heather Wilkinson: life in prison.
• Murder of Don Patterson: life in prison.
• Murder of Gail Patterson: life in prison.

Full sentence: life with a non-parole period of 33 years.

Patterson will be taken back to the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, where she has been sentenced to spend at least the next 33 years of her life. Justice Beale said: "There is a substantial chance that for your protection you will continue to be held in solitary confinement for years to come."

She now has until October 6 to lodge an appeal against her conviction or sentence or both.