By AIDAN KNIGHT, STEFAN BRADLEY and LIAM DURKIN
ERIN Patterson’s legal team has revealed they intend to appeal her convictions over the fatal 2023 Leongatha mushroom lunch on the second last day of her appeal window.
Last Thursday (October 2) saw Patterson’s barrister Richard Edney announce in a short Supreme Court mention, without detailing the grounds for the appeal, as the documentation had not yet been finalised.
“So, we seek that variation to the suppression order and can indicate to Your Honour there will be an appeal against conviction,” Mr Edney said.
Mr Edney will be joined by a new addition to the mushroom cook’s legal team in Julian McMahon SC, a top human rights lawyer who represented members of the Bali Nine, and has built a reputation for “looking after people who no one else really wants to defend.”
Mr McMahon is reportedly asking for extra time to file the appeal, citing a newly introduced rule that allows a limited extension of appeal deadlines.
At the same time, prosecutors argue that the 33-year non-parole sentence handed down was already too lenient for Patterson.
Patterson’s legal team will be specifically challenging the non-parole period of her life sentence, which was set during the proceedings on September 8.
The hearing that took place last week was not strictly related to that potential appeal. It was instead dealing with the expiry of a suppression order on pre-trial material, which has now been extended by Justice Christopher Beale from October 6 to November 3.
ELSEWHERE, Patterson’s car was recently listed for sale online.
Her Red 2023 MG SUV formed part of the trial, after security footage from the Koonwarra Transfer Station showed Patterson disposing of the food dehydrator later found to have death cap mushroom residue.
The listing was posted by Patterson’s power of attorney, Alison ‘Ali’ Rose Prior for $18,500. She wrote the car was “only selling because of an upgrade”.
Ms Prior sat in Morwell’s Latrobe Valley Law Courts most days the 10-week trial was held, and was swamped by reporters after Patterson’s guilty verdict was handed down.
