Urgent.News

What's breaking now, across thousands of outlets.

World

Live: Appeal decision at 10am for triple murderer Erin Patterson

Three judges from Victoria's Court of Appeal will hand down their judgment on Erin Patterson's appeal against her murder convictions and on the prosecution's appeal over her sentence.

Live: Appeal decision at 10am for triple murderer Erin Patterson

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.

Written by urgent.news from The Guardian Australia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

This story

This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.

Read the original at abc.net.au →

More in World

More from Thursday 29 October →