An Australian woman has been sentenced to life in prison for serving her relatives a meal that included death cap mushrooms.
Erin Patterson, aged 50, also received a non-parole period of 33 years during the sentencing at the Supreme Court of Victoria. She has 28 days to appeal the sentence.
Patterson had previously been found guilty of murdering her parents-in-law Don and Gail Patterson and her aunt-in-law Heather Wilkinson. She was also found guilty of the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson in a jury trial which ran from April to July.
Heather Wilkinson, aged 66, and Gail Patterson, aged 70, died from death cap mushroom poisoning. Don Patterson, 70, also died despite having a liver transplant.
Details heard in court
In July 2023, Patterson invited her ex-husband Simon, his parents and his aunt and uncle to lunch without the children to discuss fabricated medical issues. Simon declined the invitation. She served her four guests individual Beef Wellingtons which deliberately contained death cap mushrooms.
Evidence by Ian Wilkinson stated the guests had their meals on grey plates, while Patterson’s food was on a smaller orangey-tan colored plate.
Police recovered Beef Wellington remains from a bin outside Patterson’s home which were found to contain death cap mushroom toxins.
Patterson initially said she had purchased some fresh mushrooms at Woolworths and dried mushrooms from an Asian grocery. At the trial, she added that she had foraged for edible mushrooms in various places and that death cap mushrooms must have accidentally found their way into the meals served.
Patterson disposed of her food dehydrator at a local tip. Forensic examination revealed that it contained traces of death cap mushrooms.
Intention to kill
The judge also revealed that Patterson threw out the grey plates used to serve the poisoned Beef Wellingtons and falsely claimed to have fed her children leftovers with the pastry and mushrooms scraped off. She feigned illness and disposed of her phone, providing police with a dummy one.
Patterson has spent 22 hours in her cell every day at the facility where she is being held as she was assessed as being at significant risk from other prisoners. Her solitary confinement is expected to continue for the “foreseeable future.”
Judge Christopher Beale said the offense involved “substantial premeditation”.
“I am satisfied that by July 16, 2023, when you unusually invited Simon, his parents and his aunt and uncle to a lunch without the children to discuss your non-existent medical issues, you did so with the intention of killing them all. In addition to denying the use of foraged mushrooms, you engaged in an elaborate cover-up of your guilt. Your failure to exhibit any remorse pours salt into all the victims’ wounds.”
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