Australian court sets August date for ‘mushroom murderer’ appeal hearing

Erin Patterson was found guilty of killing three family members as she served them a lunch laced with poisonous fungi.An Australian court has confirmed that an appeal hearing for Erin Patterson, commonly referred to as the “mushroom murderer,” will be held in August.The Victoria" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="119585" data-entity-type="organization">Supreme Court of Victoria announced on Friday that the hearing will take place on August 19 and 20. Patterson’s lawyers formally applied to appeal her life sentence in November, arguing that there had been a “substantial miscarriage of justice” during her trial.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Sole survivor of deadly mushroom lunch testifies at Australian murder triallist 2 of 3Erin Patterson guilty of Australian mushroom murders: All about verdictlist 3 of 3Australia ‘mushroom murderer’ sentenced to life in prisonend of listPatterson was sentenced to life in prison in September after being found guilty of murdering three of her estranged husband’s relatives by serving them a lunch laced with poisonous fungi.During the two-day hearing, the court will also consider an appeal from prosecutors, who argue that her sentence, which allows her to be considered for parole after 33 years, is “manifestly inadequate”.Prosecutors unsuccessfully argued during the trial that her sentence should have been life imprisonment without parole.Convicted triple-murderer Erin Patterson was sentenced to life in prison in September (Getty)In July, a jury found Patterson guilty of killing her estranged husband’s parents after serving them a lunch of beef Wellington laced with toxic mushrooms.The case attracted worldwide attention, with more than 250 journalists registering for updates from the court, and the judge deciding to broadcast the sentencing live.Both Gail Patterson and Donald Patterson died in August 2023. Patterson was also found guilty of murdering Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, who died that same month, and of attempting to kill Wilkinson’s husband, Ian. He spent seven weeks in hospital following the poisoning and received a liver transplant.