By STEFAN BRADLEY
PROSECUTORS in the Erin Patterson case claim Judge Christopher Beale “erred” during his sentencing of the Leongatha triple-murderer, and that her punishment was “manifestly inadequate”, which has warranted them to file an appeal in an attempt to impose a harsher sentence.
Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Diana Piekusis said she was satisfied that an appeal was in the public interest.
“It was inappropriate for the sentencing judge to fix a non-parole period”, and “the non-parole period of 33 years is manifestly inadequate,” as written in the Notice of Appeal, released to media last week.
Patterson (pictured) is serving a life sentence with a 33-year non-parole period, including time served for murdering Don and Gail Patterson, and Heather Wilkinson, and for the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson.
Including time served, she will be 82 years old if she’s released in 2056.
Patterson was spared the harshest penalty of a life sentence with no parole, with Judge Beale citing the harsh prison conditions and time in solitary confinement (22 hours a day) she is currently enduring as such an infamous prisoner.
But the prosecution is challenging that finding by saying the judge erred “in finding that there was a ‘substantial chance’ the respondent would be held in ‘solitary confinement for years to come’ when such a finding was not open on the evidence, and that finding infected his assessment of the respondent’s likely future conditions in custody and his decision to fix a non-parole period”.
