{
  "id": 1830457,
  "title": "Live: Mushroom killer Erin Patterson appeals murder conviction",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/live-mushroom-killer-erin-patterson-appeals-murder-conviction",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T23:44:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-19/live-blog-erin-patterson-appeal-day-1/107050704"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Erin Patterson, a convicted murderer, is attempting to overturn her current conviction and sentence during a two-day hearing at the Supreme Court in Melbourne. Meanwhile, Crown prosecutors will seek to increase her sentence and eliminate the prospect of parole. Patterson is represented by barristers Richard Edney and Veronika Drago, who will argue that her trial was marred by numerous miscarriages of justice and prejudicial incidents. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Brendan Kissane, will lead the prosecution and argue that the sentence, which includes the possibility of parole, was too lenient. Patterson is not attending the hearing in person and will watch proceedings via video link. The hearing, which is expected to draw about 40 reporters, is being held at the Supreme Court due to public interest. The Erin Patterson murder trial, which took place in Morwell, Victoria, was one of the most high-profile cases in recent memory, capturing international attention.",
  "summary": "Erin Patterson, known as the triple murderer in the \"Mushroom Murders\" case, is appealing her conviction. Patterson was found guilty in July 2025 of poisoning four relatives with death cap mushrooms, killing three of them, including her parents-in-law and her husband's aunt. She was also found guilty of attempted murder in the case of her husband's uncle.\n\nPatterson's lawyers will appeal her conviction on multiple grounds, including a \"fundamental irregularity\" during jury sequestering that they claim requires her convictions to be quashed. According to Live Mint, Patterson's lawyers describe this irregularity as a miscarriage of justice in her original trial. The prosecution, on the other hand, will appeal her sentence, describing the 33-year non-parole period as \"manifestly inadequate\".\n\nThe appeal hearings are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, with Patterson not expected to appear in court. Her lawyers are seeking a re-trial, while the prosecution is pushing for a longer sentence with no chance of parole. ABC News AU reports that Crown prosecutors will appeal to have any possibility of parole revoked.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}