Death cap mushroom killer Erin Patterson to appeal triple murder conviction

A Victoria court will begin hearing appeals on Wednesday for Australian Erin Patterson, who was convicted of murdering her estranged husband's parents and his aunt with a poisoned beef Wellington in 2023. Patterson will challenge her three concurrent life sentences and 33-year non-parole period, while the state prosecutor seeks a harsher sentence, arguing it is "manifestly inadequate."

The trial lasted 11 weeks, during which Patterson maintained her innocence and argued that a fundamental irregularity occurred during jury sequestration, as well as various pieces of evidence being irrelevant or unfairly prejudicial. The jury found her guilty of luring the victims to lunch at her home in Leongatha, about 135 km southeast of Melbourne, and poisoning them with death cap mushrooms in the dish. The Court of Appeal will livestream the appeals on August 19 and 20.