Australia’s ‘mushroom killer’ Erin Patterson to challenge conviction

SYDNEY, Oct 2 — Erin Patterson, the Australian woman convicted of murdering three people with toxic mushrooms, will appeal her guilty verdict, her lawyer informed the court today following a trial that drew worldwide attention.

The 51-year-old was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole last month for serving a beef Wellington laced with deadly mushrooms to her estranged husband’s parents, aunt, and uncle during a 2023 lunch at her Leongatha home.

Her lawyer, Richard Edney, told an administrative hearing at Victoria’s Supreme Court that Patterson planned to “appeal against conviction,” though he did not provide further details. According to ABC, her legal team has 28 days to file the necessary documents before the court decides whether to proceed with the appeal.

Patterson, who will be eligible for parole after 33 years, had sought release after 30 years, arguing that the notoriety of her case would force her to spend much of her sentence in isolation.

During her two-month trial, Patterson maintained that the fatal dish was unintentionally contaminated with death cap mushrooms, considered the world’s deadliest fungus.

However, a jury in July found her guilty of murdering Don and Gail Patterson, her husband Simon’s parents, and his aunt Heather Wilkinson. She was also convicted of attempting to murder Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, who survived the poisoning.

Simon Patterson, who had been invited to the meal, did not attend, telling his estranged wife he felt “uncomfortable” joining. At the time, the couple was still legally married but embroiled in disputes over child support.

In August, survivors and relatives of the victims described the profound toll of the tragedy. Ian Wilkinson said he felt only “half alive” without his wife.

“The silence in our home is a daily reminder,” he told the court. “I continue to carry a heavy burden of grief over her untimely death.”

Death cap mushrooms are often mistaken for edible varieties and are said to have a deceptively pleasant taste despite their extreme toxicity. — AFP