Erin Patterson appeal live updates: mushroom murderer to learn fate in retrial bid

The Court of Appeal is set to rule on Erin Patterson's two appeals in their bid for retrial or a longer prison term in the high-profile Australian mushroom triple-murder case. Confined to the Gordon unit of the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, Patterson appeared via videolink in royal blue attire and communicated her ability to hear proceedings through a raised thumb.

The appeal hearings in August saw only a handful of victims' family representatives in court, with homicide squad detectives and members of the public in attendance. Director of Public Prosecutions Brendan Kissane KC argued that the initial sentence was manifestly inadequate, claiming that even though Patterson would be in her 80s when eligible for parole, the sentence was still too lenient.

Patterson's legal team presented seven grounds for appeal, including the alleged catastrophic failure of the justice system due to jurors staying in the same hotel as police and prosecution. Patterson was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 33 years for the murders of her estranged husband's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, his aunt Heather Wilkinson, and the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, who survived the death cap mushroom-laced beef wellington.