Triple-murderer Erin Patterson has stolen years of love and laughter, family members of the victims poisoned by her toxic beef Wellington lunch have told a court.
Patterson, 50, was last month found guilty of killing three relatives - and attempting to kill another - with a death cap mushroom-laced meal in July 2023.
In a hearing on Monday, ahead of her sentencing on 8 September, a group of relatives gave emotional statements about the impact of their loved ones' brutal deaths.
The sole survivor of the lunch, local pastor Ian Wilkinson, said he felt half alive without his late wife Heather - but made a powerful offer of forgiveness to the woman who killed her and almost took his life too.
In the days after the meal at Patterson's home, her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, died in hospital, as well as Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66. Mr. Wilkinson became desperately ill but recovered after weeks of treatment in hospital. Patterson's estranged husband Simon Patterson had also been invited to the lunch but pulled out at the last minute. He has accused Patterson of a years-long campaign to poison him too - but three charges of attempted murder relating to him were dropped on the eve of the trial.
One after another, in quick succession, on Monday the court heard a series of victim impact statements which detailed how Erin Patterson's crimes blew up two close-knit families.
Mr. Patterson spoke of his inability to articulate how much he missed his parents. Ruth Dubios - the daughter of Ian and Heather Wilkinson - told the court Patterson had used her parents' natural kindness against them. Don Patterson's 100-year-old mother shared her grief at having outlived him.
Sitting across from Erin Patterson, Mr. Wilkinson opened his statement by tearfully paying tribute to his beautiful wife. He expressed his profound loss and questioned Patterson's motives in committing such heinous acts. He voiced his desire for justice yet also extended forgiveness to Patterson, urging her to use her time in prison wisely.
As the hearing concluded, prosecutors argued that Patterson should face life without parole due to the heinous nature of her crimes, while Patterson's attorney suggested that parole might be warranted given the likely isolation of her notoriety.
Justice Christopher Beale is set to hand down sentencing on 8 September.
Patterson, 50, was last month found guilty of killing three relatives - and attempting to kill another - with a death cap mushroom-laced meal in July 2023.
In a hearing on Monday, ahead of her sentencing on 8 September, a group of relatives gave emotional statements about the impact of their loved ones' brutal deaths.
The sole survivor of the lunch, local pastor Ian Wilkinson, said he felt half alive without his late wife Heather - but made a powerful offer of forgiveness to the woman who killed her and almost took his life too.
In the days after the meal at Patterson's home, her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, died in hospital, as well as Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66. Mr. Wilkinson became desperately ill but recovered after weeks of treatment in hospital. Patterson's estranged husband Simon Patterson had also been invited to the lunch but pulled out at the last minute. He has accused Patterson of a years-long campaign to poison him too - but three charges of attempted murder relating to him were dropped on the eve of the trial.
One after another, in quick succession, on Monday the court heard a series of victim impact statements which detailed how Erin Patterson's crimes blew up two close-knit families.
Mr. Patterson spoke of his inability to articulate how much he missed his parents. Ruth Dubios - the daughter of Ian and Heather Wilkinson - told the court Patterson had used her parents' natural kindness against them. Don Patterson's 100-year-old mother shared her grief at having outlived him.
Sitting across from Erin Patterson, Mr. Wilkinson opened his statement by tearfully paying tribute to his beautiful wife. He expressed his profound loss and questioned Patterson's motives in committing such heinous acts. He voiced his desire for justice yet also extended forgiveness to Patterson, urging her to use her time in prison wisely.
As the hearing concluded, prosecutors argued that Patterson should face life without parole due to the heinous nature of her crimes, while Patterson's attorney suggested that parole might be warranted given the likely isolation of her notoriety.
Justice Christopher Beale is set to hand down sentencing on 8 September.
