Erin Patterson mushroom murder conviction appeal
One page that accretes the verified record as the story develops. Every fact keeps its date and its sources.
Legal developments in Australian mushroom poisoning murder case
Justice Christopher Beale ordered the jury in Patterson's trial to be sequestered during deliberations to reduce the risk of gossip and contamination.
The jury found Patterson guilty on all counts.
The state's juries commissioner rejected two requests from the defence to investigate the matter after the verdicts.
“I understand that there is a shortage of accommodation in the district, but it is obviously undesirable,”
Mushroom poisoner told at appeal hearing she must stay in prison forever
“Not only did the respondent sit by and watch her victims consume the deadly meal over chit-chat and banter, but the meal ended with a prayer for her, following her lie about having been diagnosed with cancer. ”
Mushroom murderer trial appeal hears of hotel mix-up
Patterson, 51, did not attend the Court of Appeal in Melbourne in person and watched via video link from prison.
Patterson's lawyers argued that Facebook messages Patterson sent months before the lunch were irrelevant and should not have been allowed.
Patterson's lawyer Veronika Drago said there was no evidence that Patterson had ever accessed or seen the iNaturalist posts.
“doused with impermissible conduct”
Erin Patterson mushroom murder conviction appeal hearing in Australian court
In 2020, Erin Patterson posted a photo of mushrooms in a poisons help Facebook group, claiming her cat had eaten one and become sick, but she did not own a cat.
Erin Patterson was sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 33 years.
Justice Christopher Beale said the reason for offering Patterson hope of release was the prison conditions she faced.
“Poison's the weapon, the fact that she did take out family members... [she's] white, female, financially stable, you know. And they're all church people.”
Erin Patterson appeals mushroom murder convictions
Prosecutors at trial suggested Patterson went looking for death caps after two sightings near her hometown were reported on the citizen scientist site iNaturalist
Edney called the hotel situation "catastrophic" and said it undermined the integrity of the verdicts and required the convictions to be quashed
Edney said a retrial was required "so that justice can not only be done but be seen to be done"
“doused with impermissible conduct”
Australia mushroom murder appeal centers on hotel mix-up
Erin Patterson attended a hearing via video link from prison on Wednesday.
Patterson's lawyers argued evidence crucial to their case was wrongfully excluded.
The killings were carried out by serving a beef Wellington containing death cap mushrooms at Patterson's Victoria home in 2023.
Hotel mix-up central to Australian mushroom murder appeal
Patterson has always maintained the mushroom poisoning was an accident.
Patterson is serving a life sentence after killing three of her relatives and trying to kill another by serving them a beef Wellington containing death cap mushrooms at her Victoria home in 2023.
Erin Patterson attended a hearing via video link from prison on Wednesday.