Prosecution Appeals 'Insufficient' Sentence for Australian Mushroom Murderer

Fri Oct 10 2025 11:28:40 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Australian prosecutors have appealed the life sentence of Erin Patterson, convicted of poisoning three relatives with toxic mushrooms. The appeal argues that her sentence does not reflect the severity of her crimes.

Erin Patterson, sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 33 years for poisoning her in-laws with death cap mushrooms, is facing an appeal from the Australian Department of Public Prosecutions. The prosecution contends her sentence is 'manifestly inadequate.' As public interest grows, Patterson's case has been under intense scrutiny, raising questions about legal rights and sentencing norms in Australia.

Prosecutors in Australia have filed an appeal against the sentence of mushroom murderer Erin Patterson, saying it was manifestly inadequate.

Last month, Patterson, 51, was jailed for life with no chance of release for at least 33 years, for murdering three relatives and attempting to kill another with a toxic mushroom meal.

On Monday, the deadline for the appeal, the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) confirmed that it had filed an appeal on the basis that the sentence handed down to Erin Patterson is manifestly inadequate.

Patterson's jail term—one of the longest ever handed to a female offender in Australia—means she will be in her 80s before she is able to apply for parole.

Last week, her barrister Richard Edney told a hearing in Melbourne that she intended to appeal against her conviction, though this has not yet been formally lodged.

Patterson's appeal is not an automatic right. Her legal team must convince the appeal court in the state of Victoria that there were legal errors that warrant a hearing. No details have been given on their grounds for appeal.

The intense public interest in her case has generated a media frenzy, attracting journalists, podcasters, and documentary makers from around the world, as well as members of the public who converged on the small courthouse in the country town of Morwell.

Patterson killed her in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, after serving them meals containing deadly death cap mushrooms at her home in Victoria. Only Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson, a local pastor, survived after weeks in the hospital, but continues to suffer ongoing health issues.

During sentencing, Justice Christopher Beale acknowledged that Patterson's crimes were among the worst of their kind, but his decision to allow for the possibility of parole was influenced by the harsh prison conditions she faced. He noted that she had spent 15 months in solitary confinement and potentially faced more time in isolation for her safety due to the high-profile nature of the case.

The case continues to captivate the public imagination, as one of the most shocking murder trials in recent Australian history raises complex questions about justice and accountability.