By LIAM DURKIN
Mushroom murderer Erin Patterson will spend at least the next 33 years behind bars.
Ms Patterson was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 33 years in Melbourne’s Supreme Court on Monday for three counts of murder and one of attempted murder.
Justice Christopher Beale handed Ms Patterson three concurrent sentences of life imprisonment for the murders of Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, and 25
years for the attempted murder of Korumburra pastor, Ian Wilkinson.
Justice Beale agreed with the jury’s guilty verdict, which found Ms Patterson deliberately poisoned the quartet by serving them beef wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms in July 2023.
The jury reached its verdict in Morwell’s Latrobe Valley law courts where the marathon trial
was held, thrusting the local town into the global spotlight.
Ms Patterson entered the Supreme Court wearing a brown jacket with the collar turned up at 9.27am last Monday, and learnt her fate just under an hour later.
Her defence conceded at the plea hearing that her offending deserved a life sentence, but argued for parole. The prosecution sought life without parole.
Ultimately, Justice Beale decided on 33 years without parole, noting the “standard sentence” for murder was life imprisonment, and 25 years for attempted murder.
In his sentencing remarks, Justice Beale said Ms Patterson committed a crime of the highest order.
“Clearly, the jury was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that you committed the alleged
offences,” His Honour said.
“Your crimes have harmed a great many people. Your offending falls into the worst category.”
Justice Beale also agreed with Mr Wilkinson’s evidence that Ms Patterson had served the deadly beef wellingtons on different-styled plates than her own, noting the “substantial premeditation” that went into preparing the lunch at her Leongatha home, which her
estranged husband, Simon declined an invitation to attend.
Simon was not present in court on Monday, and has been physically absent for much of the trial since giving evidence in Morwell.
Evidence released after the verdict revealed Ms Patterson tried to murder Simon at least three times with similar methods to what eventually felled his parents, Don and Gail, and aunt, Heather.
Text messages sent from Ms Patterson slamming her in-laws and husband were also read out verbatim by His Honour during the sentencing.
Furthermore, Justice Beale pointed to the lengths Ms Patterson went to try and cover up her offending, such as disposing of a food dehydrator that was found to have mushroom residue, denying ever foraging death cap mushrooms, and keeping death caps in separate containers to ones she purchased.
“The jury rejected this elaborate explanation,”
His Honour said in reference to the death caps getting mixed up with healthy mushrooms in Ms Patterson’s food containers.
While Ms Patterson had clashed with her husband over child support payments, the exact motive behind the murders still remains the biggest mystery.
As Justice Beale said however, “Some murders happen for no apparent reason. Only you know why you committed. I will not speculate.”
A packed gallery watched on as the triple murderer sat in the dock, looking calm as the trial that has gripped public interest reached its conclusion.
People lined outside the Supreme Court early Monday morning, with the line already at least 20 people deep when the Express arrived just before 8am.
Such was the interest, the Supreme Court agreed to allow an in-court television camera to broadcast the sentencing – the first time this has occured in Victoria.
Justice Beale directed Ms Patterson to stand at 10.16am before delivering her sentence.
Ms Patterson was then taken from the dock, trotting emotionlessly and holding nearby furnishings as a handrail while she waked out.
Mr Wilkinson arrived in court flanked by family, including his daughter Ruth Dubois, who sat in court wearing a face mask. The wheelchair-bound Ms Dubois did not have a mask on when she left court.
Mr Wilkinson addressed awaiting media outside court, speaking in tones similar to what many would expect from a church pastor.
He took the opportunity to pay credit to Victoria Police, the Homicide Squad and the Office of Public Prosecution, led by Dr Nanette Rogers, who did not wish to provide comment to media upon leaving court.
“We’re grateful for their skills. They brought to light the truth of what happened with the death of three good people,” Mr Wilkinson said.
“I’m also very grateful for the kindness and compassion they showed us, me and my family, throughout the long process that has brought us to this day – they have done a wonderful job.
“The court processes are a little bewildering to lay people like me – we’re grateful to their expertise, their hard work and their perseverance that has secured this conviction.
“We’re thankful that when things go wrong, there are good people with services and systems available to help us recover.”
Mr Wilkinson also expressed thanks to the Leongatha and Korumburra communities for their support.
“Our lives and the life of our community depends on the kindness of others,” he said.
“I’d like to encourage everybody to be kind to each other.”
Even with the gravity of the sentence front of mind, those final words from the pastor elicited nods from the media throng assembled.
Intense media attention, including from overseas, came to Morwell while the trial took place, injecting an estimated $3 million boost in the local economy.
Live television crosses, news helicopters, documentary crews and even podcasts dedicated to the case became commonplace at Morwell while the trial was on.
Justice Beale took this notoriety into calculation, saying Ms Patterson was “likely to remain a notorious prisoner for years to come”.
Ms Patterson, who has always maintained her innocence, will be eligible for parole in 2056, at which time she will be 82-years-old.
She has 28 days from her sentencing date to appeal.
