Erin Patterson loses murder appeal and is resentenced to life without parole

The Court of Appeal in Victoria, Australia, has dismissed an appeal by 52-year-old Erin Patterson against her triple-murder convictions, as reported by the Guardian, the Irish Times, and ABC News Australia. The three-judge panel also agreed with a cross-appeal from the director of public prosecutions, who argued that her initial sentence was inadequate. The judges increased her jail term to life in prison with no chance of parole. [1][2][3][4]

Justices Lesley Taylor, Stephen McLeish, and Peter Kidd handed down their decision on October 30 after hearing arguments in August, according to the Irish Times. Patterson did not attend the 15-minute hearing in person but appeared on a video feed, where the Guardian and the Irish Times report she showed no emotion as Justice McLeish read the ruling. After the judges left the court, Patterson picked up a book and walked off-screen. [1][2]

Patterson was convicted of murder after serving beef Wellingtons containing toxic death cap mushrooms during a lunch at her home in Leongatha, Victoria, on July 29, 2023. The Daily Express reported that she poisoned four relatives of her estranged husband, killing three and leaving one person seriously injured. [4][11]

According to the Guardian, Patterson is now one of only a few offenders in Victoria, and one of the only women in Australian history, to receive a sentence of life without parole. To continue fighting her convictions or her new sentence, she must now apply to the High Court of Australia for leave to appeal. [1]