Australian Woman Convicted in Mushroom Poison Murders Ordered Never Released From Prison

Court rejects parole eligibility

On Friday, an Australian appeals court ordered Erin Patterson to remain in prison for life without the possibility of parole. Justice McLeish said her intent to murder all four victims had continued for almost three weeks after she invited them to lunch.

Prosecutors had argued at an August appeal hearing that Patterson should never be eligible for parole. The court agreed, finding the crimes too serious to set a nonparole period.

Poisoning followed family lunch

Patterson maintained that the mushrooms were included accidentally. Her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, had been invited but declined the day before; he testified at a pretrial hearing that he turned down the invitation out of fear.

Survivor described loss

Ian Wilkinson, the only survivor, testified that Patterson said she wanted the guests’ advice about what to tell the children regarding her diagnosis. Wilkinson, a Baptist pastor, also spoke about the grief after his wife died. At trial, Wilkinson said, “I only feel half alive without her,” then wept.

Judge cited evidence conduct

Because of her notoriety, she is held in the high-security Gordon Unit at Melbourne’s Dame Phyllis Frost Centre women’s prison. The unit houses prisoners considered at high risk from other inmates.