In a landmark ruling, Erin Patterson, a 50-year-old Australian woman, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole for at least 33 years for the murder of three relatives and the attempted murder of a fourth through a toxic mushroom meal. The sentence, one of the longest ever imposed on a female offender in Australia, ensures Patterson will be in her 80s before she can apply for release. The Supreme Court of Victoria described her crimes as belonging to the “worst category” of offenses, involving an “elaborate cover-up.”
Patterson was convicted of killing her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66, after serving them a deadly beef Wellington dish at her home in Victoria in 2023. Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, a local pastor, survived the poisoning but continues to suffer from severe health complications. Patterson’s estranged husband, Simon Patterson, narrowly avoided the fateful meal due to suspicions that his wife had been attempting to poison him for years.
Despite her claims of innocence, asserting that the toxic death cap mushrooms were accidentally included in the dish, Patterson was found guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. Justice Christopher Beale emphasized the gravity of her crimes, imposing the maximum penalty while acknowledging the harsh conditions she faces in prison, including prolonged solitary confinement.
The case has drawn significant public and media attention, with the court permitting live television coverage of the sentencing—a first in its history. Outside the courtroom, Ian Wilkinson, the sole survivor, expressed gratitude to law enforcement and medical personnel while urging kindness among people. Patterson has 28 days to appeal both her sentence and the guilty verdicts.