Erin Patterson’s appeal for her murder conviction began today, over a year after she was found guilty of murdering three relatives and attempting to murder another.

Patterson was sentenced to life in prison with a 33-year non-parole period.

The accused has appealed the convictions on seven grounds, however has not made an appeal against the sentence.

The Victorian Supreme Court found Patterson had intentionally poisoned her guests using death cap mushrooms in a beef wellington she served at a dinner in July 2023. The victims were the relatives of her estranged husband, Simon Patterson.  She served the mushrooms to and was convicted of murdering, Simon’s parents, as well as his aunt. Simon’s uncle, Ian Wilkinson, was also served the mushrooms but survived.

Patterson’s lawyers argue that the jury being sequestered in the same hotel as police and media “fatally undermined” the integrity of the trial. Her legal team also argue that the inclusion of some evidence was unjust, causing prejudice and calling the cross-examination “unfair and oppressive”.

The hearing will go for two days, where Patterson’s lawyers will push for her convictions to be overturned in favour of a retrial or an acquittal. Patterson herself is not attending court, instead calling in via video link from prison.

The prosecution has also made a separate appeal to the sentence, asking that Patterson be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. They claim that given the magnitude of the crimes the possibility of parole makes the sentence “manifestly inadequate”.

Photo: By Alicja is available HERE and used under a Creative Commons License. This image has not not been modified.