Australian prosecutors appeal ‘manifestly inadequate’ sentence of mushroom killer Erin Patterson

Australian prosecutors have filed an appeal against what they describe as a “manifestly inadequate” sentence handed to Erin Patterson — the woman convicted of murdering three relatives and attempting to kill a fourth with a meal laced with deadly mushrooms.

Patterson, 51, was sentenced to life imprisonment in August, with the possibility of parole after 33 years — meaning she would be in her 80s before being eligible for release. However, the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) announced on Monday, the final day for appeal, that it would challenge the punishment, arguing it fails to reflect the gravity of her crimes.

Her conviction followed one of Australia’s most sensational trials, which captivated both local and international audiences. Prosecutors said Patterson served beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms to her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66, during a family lunch in Victoria in 2023. Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, a local pastor, was the only survivor after weeks in hospital.

Justice Christopher Beale, who presided over the trial, described the killings as “heinous” but granted the possibility of parole due to Patterson’s prolonged solitary confinement and the likelihood that she would face further isolation for her safety. He said her notoriety made her “a significant target for other prisoners.”

The case also revealed shocking details about Patterson’s alleged attempts to poison her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, years before the fatal lunch. Court evidence showed he had previously fallen into a coma after eating her food and had major surgery to remove part of his bowel.

Patterson’s legal team has signaled plans to appeal her conviction but has yet to formally file it. They must first convince Victoria’s Court of Appeal that there were legal errors during her trial.

Patterson remains held under maximum security at Melbourne’s Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, spending 22 hours a day in isolation.

Her case, dubbed the “mushroom murder,” has become one of the most notorious in Australian criminal history — and now, the debate continues over whether her punishment truly fits the crime.