Australian prosecutors seek longer term for mushroom-poisoning murderer

Victoria’s Court of Appeal heard Crown prosecutors argue that the life sentence imposed on 51-year-old Erin Patterson should be increased, describing the killings as “truly dreadful.” Patterson was convicted of murdering three family members and attempting to kill a fourth by serving a beef Wellington laced with death-cap mushrooms in 2023. Under the current sentence, she will be eligible for parole after 33 years.

Prosecutors said the crime involved a “betrayal of trust” because the victims were invited to a family lunch, and that Patterson had “orchestrated” the poisoning over several months, including foraging the mushrooms and fabricating a false story about a cancer diagnosis. They added that she continued to lie to police and medical staff even after the victims were on life support.

The appeal also includes a challenge from Patterson’s lawyers seeking to overturn her convictions, citing alleged procedural errors at trial. The judges reserved their decisions, indicating a ruling could take weeks or months.

At sentencing in September, Justice Christopher Beale noted the possibility of solitary confinement for Patterson, citing prison conditions. Prosecutors countered that her conditions would improve over time and that the minimum term of 33 years was “manifestly inadequate,” urging the court to raise it to reflect the seriousness of the offences.

"The lunch guests had been good to the respondent and her children over many years," prosecutors said.

"Even when she knew that some of the victims were on life support, she maintained her lies," they added.

Patterson’s legal team argued that the trial was compromised by a “catastrophic” mix-up involving shared accommodation for prosecutors and a key witness, and that some evidence presented was speculative, potentially leading to a miscarriage of justice.