UPDATE: Erin Patterson, the convicted triple murderer, has just been escorted into the Supreme Court in Melbourne for a critical two-day pre-sentence hearing. This comes after she was found guilty of three murders and the attempted murder of her sole surviving lunch victim, Ian Wilkinson, during a fatal mushroom-laced meal in 2023.
Patterson, 50, arrived at court wearing a paisley top and a light brown jacket, surrounded by a heavy media presence and a public eager to witness the proceedings. Ian Wilkinson, who survived the deadly meal, attended alongside family members of the deceased victims, including his wife Heather Wilkinson and in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, who tragically lost their lives.
The courtroom was packed as members of the public lined up before 10 AM on Monday, eager to catch a glimpse of Patterson, whose actions have shocked the nation. During the hearing, Wilkinson and the families of the victims are expected to deliver poignant victim impact statements that will outline the profound consequences of Patterson’s actions.
“We are here to seek justice for our loved ones,” said a family member outside the court.
Patterson served the poisoned dish, a beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms, during a lunch at her home in Leongatha. The meal led to the hospitalization of all her guests, with Don, Gail, and Heather succumbing to the poison shortly after. Notably, Patterson had invited her estranged husband, Simon, to the gathering, but he declined the invitation just hours before the meal.
During the trial, it was revealed that Simon believed Patterson had attempted to poison him on previous occasions, raising chilling questions about the extent of her alleged actions. Although he did not attend the lunch, his claims about prior poisoning incidents were not presented in court. Some evidence, including a post allegedly created by Patterson about poisoning assistance and other related findings, was also ruled inadmissible.
As Patterson faces the possibility of a life sentence, prosecutors will argue for the length of her imprisonment, while her defense team will present factors that could mitigate her sentence. The court has yet to determine if a sentencing date will be set during this hearing.
With emotions running high and the public closely following the case, this pre-sentence hearing marks a significant step in delivering justice for the victims’ families. Attention now turns to the statements expected from the Wilkinsons as the proceedings unfold over the next two days.
Stay tuned for updates as this urgent case develops in the coming hours.
