Erin Patterson sentenced to 33 years for mushroom poisoning

In Short:
– Erin Patterson has been sentenced to at least 33 years after murdering three family members by poisoning during a meal.
– Patterson has been found guilty for the murder of Don, Heather & Gail Patterson, and the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson.

Erin Patterson has been sentenced for the murder of three family members through poisoning.

Patterson, 50, was convicted in July for poisoning four relatives during a beef Wellington lunch at her home in July 2023.

The victims, Don and Gail Patterson, and Heather Wilkinson, died shortly after the meal, while Ian Wilkinson survived.

The full sentencing for her crimes are the following:

Attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson: 25 years in prison.

Murder of Heather Wilkinson: life in prison.

Murder of Don Patterson: life in prison.

Murder of Gail Patterson: life in prison.

Full sentence is life with non-parole period of 33 years.

Crown prosecutor Jane Warren said Patterson’s victims suffered a “slow and painful death”.

“It is a crime that is so cruel and so horrific, that in our submission, the offender is not deserving of this court’s mercy,” she said, calling for life without the chance at parole.

At trial, prosecutors argued she deliberately poisoned the meal with death cap mushrooms, but Patterson claimed it was a tragic accident.