Australian prosecutors appeal Erin Patterson's sentence as 'manifestly inadequate'

Australian prosecutors have lodged an appeal against Erin Patterson's life sentence, arguing it is manifestly inadequate.

Patterson, 51, was last month handed a life term with a non-parole period of 33 years for murdering three family members and attempting to kill a fourth by serving beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms at her Victorian home in 2023.

The Department of Public Prosecutions filed the appeal in Victoria on Monday, citing the sentence's failure to reflect the severity of the offences.

Long sentence for a female offender

The non-parole period means Patterson will be in her eighties before she can seek release, one of the longest such terms for a female prisoner in Australia.

Her barrister, Richard Edney, last week indicated an intention to challenge the conviction, though no formal appeal has yet been lodged. Such an appeal must demonstrate legal errors to secure a hearing.

Case details and aftermath

• Patterson killed in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, both aged 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66.
• Heather’s husband, Pastor Ian Wilkinson, survived after weeks in hospital and faces ongoing health issues.
• Estranged husband Simon Patterson avoided the meal, having long suspected attempts to poison him, an allegation later supported by evidence of his past severe illnesses under her care.

During sentencing, Justice Christopher Beale acknowledged the crimes as among the worst but noted Patterson’s harsh pre-sentence conditions, including 15 months in isolation, and the risk to her safety in the general prison population.

Prosecutors argue that despite its length, the sentence does not adequately reflect the calculated nature and lasting impact of the deadly poisoning plot.

This topic was reported by BBC News.

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