Triple murderer Erin Patterson has lodged an appeal against her conviction for killing three relatives with poisoned beef wellingtons, but will not challenge her sentence. The appeal was filed before the deadline by her legal team, which now includes barristers Richard Edney and Veronika Drago.
Patterson, 51, was sentenced on 8 September to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 33 years for the murders of her estranged husband's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt, Heather Wilkinson. She was also convicted 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 did not intend to serve beef wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms to her lunch guests in July 2023. Justice Christopher Beale cited substantial premeditation, pitiless behaviour, victim suffering, and an elaborate cover-up as aggravating factors.
Beale noted the enormous betrayal of trust, stating that the victims were relatives who had been good to Patterson and her children. He said she robbed her own children of their beloved grandparents. Edney confirmed the appeal during a short hearing on 1 October, filed under new trial guidelines doubling the usual 28-day appeal period.
