Australian woman Erin Patterson, whose sensational murder trial gripped global headlines, has announced plans to appeal her conviction for killing three people with a meal laced with deadly mushrooms.
Patterson, 51, was sentenced last month to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 33 years, after a jury found her guilty of poisoning her in-laws with a beef Wellington dish at a family lunch in 2023.
Her lawyer, Richard Edney, told Victoria’s Supreme Court on Thursday that Patterson intends to challenge the verdict, though he gave no details on the grounds for appeal.
Under Australian law, her legal team has 28 days to file the necessary documents, according to national broadcaster ABC.
During her high-profile trial, which ran for more than two months, Patterson maintained that the dish was contaminated accidentally with death cap mushrooms — the world’s most lethal fungus.
The defense argued that Patterson should be eligible for parole earlier, after 30 years, noting that the case’s notoriety meant she would likely serve much of her sentence in isolation.
But the jury in July convicted her of murdering her estranged husband Simon’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt, Heather Wilkinson.
She was also found guilty of attempting to murder Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, who survived but testified that he felt “half alive” without his wife.
“The silence in our home is a daily reminder,” Ian told the court in August. “I continue to carry a heavy burden of grief over her untimely death.”
Simon Patterson, who had also been invited to the fatal lunch, pulled out at the last moment, citing discomfort with attending amid tensions over child support and a deteriorating relationship with his wife.
The case drew international attention not only for its grim details but also for its shocking use of death caps, a fungus often mistaken for edible varieties and known for its sweet taste despite its fatal toxicity.
If her appeal proceeds, Patterson will once again face the scrutiny of both the courts — and the world.
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