Australian appeal alleges juror hotel mix-up compromised murder convictions
Lawyers for Erin Patterson claimed that a hotel mix-up that placed jurors and prosecution staff in the same accommodation during a regional shortage may have compromised her murder convictions, and prosecutors maintained that the jury was closely monitored while urging a life sentence without parole. The appeal was heard in Melbourne's Court of Appeal, where Patterson sought to overturn her convictions for killing three relatives with death-cap mushrooms.
Earlier, Crown prosecutors had argued that the 33-year non-parole period was insufficient and asked the court to impose a longer term. The case initially attracted attention for the unusual mushroom-poisoning method and the subsequent legal battle over the adequacy of the sentence.
Acteurs
Erin Patterson
defence team
prosecution
Melbourne court
Lieux
Melbourne, Australia
