Erin Patterson: Prosecutors to Appeal “Manifestly Inadequate” Sentence

Prosecutors in Victoria have officially filed an appeal against the sentence handed to Erin Patterson, the woman convicted of poisoning her in-laws with a deadly mushroom lunch, calling it “manifestly inadequate.”

Patterson, 51, was sentenced in September to life in prison with a non-parole period of 33 years for the murders of Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, and the attempted murder of Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson. 

Now, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has stepped in, filing the appeal just before the deadline on Monday. A spokesperson said: “We confirm that a DPP appeal has been filed on the basis that the sentence handed down to Erin Patterson is manifestly inadequate.”

What did Patterson do?

The case gripped Australia — and the world — from the moment the bizarre details emerged. Patterson served a beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms at her home in Victoria in 2023, resulting in the death of three people, and one barely surviving. Her estranged husband Simon Patterson — who did not attend the lunch — later claimed he had long suspected his wife had been trying to poison him.

Simon’s suspicions were not without cause. In court, it was revealed he’d suffered multiple mysterious illnesses after meals prepared by Erin — one so severe he was in a coma, lost part of his bowel, and his family was told to prepare for his death.

Justice Christopher Beale, who presided over the case, acknowledged the horrific nature of the crime — including its premeditation, the suffering involved, and what he called an “enormous betrayal of trust.” He said: “Not only did you cut short three lives and cause lasting damage to Ian Wilkinson’s health... you inflicted untold suffering on your own children whom you robbed of their beloved grandparents.”

But Beale ultimately allowed for the possibility of parole, referencing the unusually harsh prison conditions Patterson had endured. At the time of sentencing, she had spent 15 months in solitary confinement for her own safety. The judge noted she would likely remain isolated for years, with 22-hour lockdowns and meals passed through a cell door slot due to her status as a major offender.

Still, the DPP is pushing for a tougher sentence. No hearing date has been set yet for their appeal. Patterson also plans to appeal her conviction, although no formal documents have been submitted yet. 

With the legal battles far from over, and both sides preparing for more courtroom drama, one thing’s clear — this story isn’t going away any time soon.