Why mushroom killer Erin Patterson is returning to court this week
The 51-year-old is serving a life sentence after she was found guilty of fatally poisoning three relatives at a family lunch.
Erin Patterson, known as the "mushroom killer," is set to return to court this week for a two-day hearing at the Victorian Court of Appeal. The 51-year-old was sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 33 years after being found guilty of murdering her estranged husband's parents and Gail Patterson's sister in a family meal in Leongatha, Victoria.
Patterson claims the deaths were an accident, as she unintentionally included lethal death cap mushrooms in the beef Wellington. The case has garnered significant media attention and has been the subject of books, television shows, and podcasts. During the hearing, Patterson's legal team will present written and oral arguments, seeking leave for an appeal.
If successful, the court could quash her convictions or acquit her, while the Director of Public Prosecutions is also appealing the sentence length, arguing for life imprisonment. Patterson is expected to appear via video link from prison.
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