Why the mushroom killer is back in court

The case of Erin Patterson, the "mushroom killer," has once again captured public attention as her appeal against her conviction for the murders of three lunch guests and an attempt on the fourth begins. RMIT criminologist and lawyer Dr. Brianna Chesser explains the seven reasons her legal team argues that Patterson was the victim of a miscarriage of justice.

The case has garnered global interest due to the rural setting and the method of killing, involving mushrooms. Patterson maintains her innocence, arguing that the incident was a tragic accident. After being found guilty by a jury in July 2025, Patterson was sentenced to life in prison with a 33-year non-parole period. This week, her appeal begins, and the court of appeal will review potential legal errors, procedural fairness, and evidence admissibility, rather than retrying the facts.