Convicted death cap mushroom killer Erin Patterson will be 82 years old before she is eligible for parole.
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She sat stony-faced in the Supreme Court of Victoria as Justice Christopher Beale handed down a life sentence with a non-parole period of 33 years.
Patterson has already served 676 days in prison, and will concurrently serve three life sentences for the murder of Heather Wilkinson, Don and Gail Patterson and a sentence of 25 years in jail for the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson.
Erin Patterson sentenced, as it happened:
Patterson will still have the opportunity to appeal against Justice Beale's decision after a jury found her guilty of the three murders.
It comes after a jury heard evidence from more than 50 witnesses about a fatal lunch she cooked in July 2023 at her Leongatha, regional Victoria home, that caused the deaths of Patterson's in-laws.
Heather's husband, pastor Ian Wilkinson, survived the beef Wellington lunch after undergoing a successful liver transplant.
Peter Angelopoulos
Anna Houlahan
Anna Houlahan reports on crime and social issues affecting regional and remote Australia in her role as national crime reporter at Australian Community Media (ACM). She was ACM’s Trainee of the Year in 2023 and, aside from reporting on crime, has travelled the country as a journalist for Explore Travel Magazine. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au
William Stanley
William is a journalist at the Warrnambool Standard. Reach out with news or updates to william.stanley@warrnamboolstandard.com.au
