Triple-murderer Erin Patterson has been sentenced to life in prison.
After an 11-week trial, Erin Patterson was found guilty of murdering her former in-laws and her ex-husband’s aunt, after serving them beef wellingtons poisoned with death cap mushrooms.
Today, Justice Christopher Beale handed down a sentence of life in prison.
This is the maximum sentence for murder in Australia; for attempted murder, it’s 25 years.
Erin received life sentences for the murders of Heather Wilkinson, and Don and Gail Patterson, and 25 years for the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson.
“All sentences are to be served concurrently,” said Justice Christopher Beale. “The total affected sentence is life imprisonment and I fix a non parole period of 33 years.”
Right off the bat, Justice Beale agreed that Erin should receive the harshest penalty. But the main dispute today was to determine whether she’d get parole, and if so, for how long.
Justice Beale decided on a non-parole period of 33 years.
This also marked the first time ever that a sentencing has been broadcast live in the state. The telecast went for 45 minutes as Beale summarised Patterson’s crimes, her background and the aftermath of her actions which will see her locked up until her early 80s.
Patterson will have until the 6th of October to lodge an appeal against her conviction, sentence, or both.