Triple murderer Erin Patterson has lodged an appeal against her conviction for killing three relatives with poisoned beef wellingtons, but will not appeal against her sentence. Lawyers for the 51-year-old confirmed the challenge was filed before the deadline on Monday.
Patterson was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 33 years on 8 September for the murders of her estranged husband'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 after weeks in hospital.
The conviction followed an 11-week trial in Morwell, Victoria, where Patterson maintained her innocence, claiming she had not intended to serve beef wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms to her guests in July 2023. Justice Christopher Beale, in sentencing, highlighted the substantial premeditation, pitiless behaviour, and elaborate cover-up as aggravating factors.
“Your offending involved an enormous betrayal of trust,” Justice Beale said. “Your victims were all your relatives by marriage. They had been good to you and your children over many years.” He noted that Patterson had “robbed her own children of their beloved grandparents.”
The appeal, lodged under new supreme court guidelines extending the filing period to 56 days, now includes barristers Richard Edney and Veronika Drago on Patterson's legal team.
