Ian Wilkinson, a pastor who survived a deadly mushroom lunch, has told a Victorian court he forgives Erin Patterson for trying to murder him but cannot forgive her for killing three other people. The Supreme Court heard on Monday that both the prosecution and defence agreed Patterson should receive a life sentence for her crimes, which Justice Christopher Beale described as 'horrendous'.
Wilkinson, whose wife Heather Wilkinson, 66, and in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, were killed by Patterson after they were served poisoned beef wellingtons in 2023, spoke for about 20 minutes about the impact of what he called the 'fateful lunch'. He said he bore Patterson no ill will and prayed she would use her time in custody to reform, but remained distressed by her 'callous and calculated disregard' for his life and those he loved.
Wilkinson described his 44-year marriage to Heather, a stay-at-home mother who believed her greatest work was raising their four children. He said her murder had caused a loss of joy and silence, and that the trauma experienced by their children had left deep wounds. He also noted that the deaths of Don and Gail were the second-greatest impact of Patterson's crimes on him.
Simon Patterson, Erin's estranged husband, had his victim impact statement read in court by his cousin. He said he missed his parents and aunt 'more than words can express' and that their two children had been 'robbed of the kind of relationship with their mother that every child yearns for'. He described the court process and media coverage as dehumanising, with strangers stalking him and his children.
Wilkinson concluded by saying he was 'no longer Erin Patterson's victim, and she has become the victim of my kindness'. The court heard seven victim impact statements on Monday, with 28 tendered for the judge's consideration. Patterson faces sentencing in a fortnight.
