Erin Patterson Sentenced to Life with 33 Years Non-Parole for Fatal Mushroom Lunch Murders
Erin Patterson Sentenced to Life with 33 Years Non-Parole for Fatal Mushroom Lunch Murders
Erin Patterson has been handed a life sentence by a Victorian Supreme Court judge for the murder of three relatives and the attempted murder of a fourth, stemming from a beef Wellington lunch laced with death cap mushrooms.
The 50-year-old will serve a minimum of 33 years behind bars for the 2023 murders of her in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson. She also received a 25-year sentence for the attempted murder of Heather Wilkinson’s husband, Ian.
Justice Christopher Beale opted for a life sentence with a non-parole period, citing the harsh conditions Patterson has already faced in custody and the prospect of solitary confinement. This means she could be eligible for release in 2056, when she will be in her early 80s, having already spent close to two years in custody.
Sole survivor Ian Wilkinson addressed the media outside the Melbourne Supreme Court following the sentencing, expressing gratitude to Victoria Police for their “professional, efficient and effective investigation” and to health services. He concluded by asking for privacy for his family as they “continue to grieve and heal.”
The high-profile “fatal mushroom lunch” case involved “substantial premeditation” according to Justice Beale, who described Patterson’s crime as “an enormous betrayal” that harmed “a great many people.”
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