Victoria's Highest Court Removes Parole for Mushroom Killer Erin Patterson

Victoria's Court of Appeal has removed the possibility of parole for Erin Patterson, ensuring she will likely die in prison after her convictions and sentence were reviewed.

According to the published judgment, appeal judges Stephen McLeish, Lesley Taylor and Peter Kidd increased Patterson's sentence by removing her non-parole period altogether. Patterson was previously sentenced last year to life in prison with a non-parole period of 33 years for the murders of Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, along with the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, following a 2023 lunch involving death cap mushrooms baked into beef Wellingtons.

Appeal Dismissed and Sentence Increased

The three appeal judges dismissed all grounds of Patterson's appeal against her convictions and rejected arguments concerning trial arrangements, digital evidence, and prosecutor conduct. The defense had argued that a hotel arrangement placing jurors near police and prosecutors compromised the trial, and challenged the use of mobile cell tower data, iNaturalist evidence, Facebook messages, and cross-examination methods. The court found these arguments unsuccessful, concluding that no miscarriage of justice occurred.

Describing the crimes as "extraordinarily cold and calculated" and "of such shocking criminality that it is inappropriate to fix a non-parole period," the judges noted that Patterson's intent was sustained for nearly three weeks.

Practical Implications and Next Steps

• Sentence Status: Patterson's sentence now expires upon death, placing her among a small group of Australian prisoners serving life without parole.
• Legal Recourse: It remains unclear whether Patterson's legal team will seek to mount a challenge in the High Court of Australia.
• Detention: Patterson watched the proceedings via video link from the maximum security wing of the Dame Phyllis Frost women's prison.

Verification of the original announcement can be conducted through official Victorian Court of Appeal records and public court publications.