Mushroom killer must stay in jail forever for 'truly dreadful' crime, appeal court told

What the report says

Prosecutors in Australia have urged the Victorian Court of Appeal to ensure Erin Patterson remains in prison for life after her 2023 mushroom poisoning case, arguing that her current sentence is too lenient because it leaves open the possibility of parole. BBC World News reports that Patterson was jailed for killing three relatives and attempting to kill a fourth by serving them a beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms at her home in Victoria.

At the hearing in Melbourne, Crown lawyers described the offending as exceptionally serious and said it involved a prolonged betrayal of family trust. They argued Patterson had planned the attack over months, prepared the poisonous meal, and then lied to police, medical staff and others while the victims were critically ill. Patterson attended the appeal by video link from prison.

Her victims were her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson. Heather’s husband Ian Wilkinson survived but has not fully recovered, according to prosecutors. The court was told Patterson is eligible for release after 33 years, which prosecutors say does not reflect the gravity of the case.

Patterson’s legal team is also trying to overturn her convictions, arguing there was a serious jury-related mix-up and that some trial evidence should not have been admitted. The judges said they would reserve their decisions, so the outcome is expected later.