Erin Patterson, convicted of murdering three people with death cap mushrooms in a beef wellington dish, has lodged an appeal against her conviction on seven grounds. The appeal documents, filed to the Victorian Court of Appeal and released on Wednesday, cite issues including the sequestering of the jury in the same hotel as police and media, and what her lawyers describe as 'unfair and oppressive' cross-examination.
Patterson, 51, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 33 years in September for the murders of her estranged husband's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt, Heather Wilkinson. She was also convicted of the attempted murder of Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson, who survived the lunch.
The appeal argues that cell tower evidence and sightings of death cap mushrooms near her home should not have been admitted. It also contends that evidence from so-called Facebook friends, met through a true-crime group, was improperly included. The documents state that a 'fundamental irregularity' occurred during jury sequestration, undermining the verdicts' integrity.
Other grounds include claims that the prosecution's closing address implied a motive for murder, despite opening the case on the basis of no evidence of motive. Patterson's legal team now includes barristers Richard Edney and Veronika Drago. A date for the appeal hearing has not yet been set.
Separately, the Victorian Director of Public Prosecutions is appealing Patterson's sentence, arguing the judge erred in considering her likely solitary confinement when setting the parole period.
