Mushroom Murderer Erin Patterson Receives Three Life Sentences in Landmark Australian Case

Historic Sentencing in High-Profile Murder Case

The Australian woman convicted of killing three lunch guests with the world’s most toxic mushrooms was sentenced to three life sentences with a non-parole period of 33 years on Monday, concluding a real-life crime drama that’s gripped Australia and spawned multiple podcasts and documentaries.

The Fatal Lunch

On July 29, 2023, Erin Patterson cooked individual beef Wellingtons for her in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson and Heather’s husband Ian, at her home in Leongatha. Her estranged husband, Simon Patterson (separated around 2020), was invited but did not attend. Patterson’s two children were sent to the cinema at the time of the lunch. The meal contained Amanita phalloides death cap mushrooms.

Tragic Aftermath

Within 24 hours, all four victims were admitted to hospital and subsequently diagnosed with severe liver failure. Three died within six days (in one case despite receiving a liver transplant), and one recovered seven weeks after the lunch.

The Trial and Verdict

The extraordinary case attracted international attention and, in a very rare instance, the sentencing was livestreamed from the Victoria Supreme Court. A 12-member jury reached the verdict in July after around six days of deliberation following a 10-week trial in Morwell.

Sentence and Future

The court sentenced Patterson to life in prison, with a non-parole period of 33 years. The 50-year-old was also convicted of attempting to murder Wilkinson’s husband, Ian, who spent weeks in hospital. She is being kept in isolation for her own safety, with limited contact with other prisoners. Patterson now has 28 days to appeal her sentence.

Impact on Community

The deaths have devastated the close-knit rural community of Korumburra, where all the victims lived. The court received a total of 28 victim impact statements, of which seven were read publicly at last month’s hearings. Ian Wilkinson, a pastor at a local church and the sole surviving guest of the lunch, told the hearing that the death of his wife had left him bereft, stating ‘It’s a truly horrible thought to live with, that somebody could decide to take her life.’