A 50-year-old Australian woman has been sentenced to a minimum of 33 years in prison after being found guilty of killing three elderly relatives of her estranged husband by serving them a meal laced with deadly mushrooms. The sentencing on 8 September concluded a high-profile ten-week trial that attracted widespread attention across Australia and internationally, even inspiring podcasts and documentaries.

 

Erin Patterson was convicted in July of murdering her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Donald Patterson, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson in July 2023. She was also sentenced for the attempted murder of Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, who survived the lunch at her home in Leongatha, Victoria. The sentences will run concurrently, with the murder convictions carrying 33 years and the attempted murder 25 years. Patterson’s estranged husband Simon, who had been invited, did not attend the lunch.

 

Justice Christopher Beale, in his remarks, told Patterson that her actions had a devastating impact not only on the victims but also on her own children. He said she had robbed them of their grandparents while destroying the lives of the extended Patterson and Wilkinson families. The judge described her decision to use individual portions of Beef Wellington poisoned with death cap mushrooms as a calculated act with catastrophic consequences.

 

Both prosecution and defence lawyers had agreed that a life sentence was appropriate for three counts of murder and one of attempted murder. Defence counsel, however, requested parole eligibility after 30 years, while prosecutors argued Patterson should never be considered for release.

 

The trial, held in the regional town of Morwell, became one of Australia’s most closely followed legal proceedings. It was broadcast live from the Supreme Court in Melbourne, marking the first time television cameras were allowed to air a sentencing in the state due to overwhelming public interest.

 

The jury was presented with evidence that Patterson had foraged for death cap mushrooms, which are extremely toxic and cause liver failure. It was alleged she lured her in-laws to the fatal meal under the false claim she had cancer, and later attempted to mislead police by hiding evidence. Four guests became seriously ill after eating the lunch, with Gail and Heather dying on 4 August and Donald dying the next day. Ian Wilkinson survived after two months of intensive hospital treatment.

 

The tragedy deeply shook the close-knit communities of Leongatha and Korumburra, where the victims had lived. Twenty-eight victim impact statements were submitted to the court, with several read aloud during hearings. Ian Wilkinson, a local pastor and the sole survivor of the meal, gave an emotional testimony describing his grief at the loss of his wife, saying he felt as though half of him had died with her.