Victoria's Supreme Court confirmed on May 7 that the appeal hearing for Erin Patterson, dubbed the 'mushroom killer' by media, will take place on August 19-20.
Patterson's lawyers formally lodged an appeal against her life sentence last November, arguing that a 'serious miscarriage of justice' occurred during the trial. Patterson was sentenced to life imprisonment in September 2025 after being found guilty of poisoning three relatives of her ex-husband by serving them a lunch laced with deadly mushrooms.
During the two-day hearing, the court will also consider the prosecution's cross-appeal. Prosecutors argue that Patterson's sentence, which allows parole consideration after 33 years, is 'manifestly inadequate'. During the original trial, prosecutors unsuccessfully sought a life sentence without parole.
In July 2025, a jury found Patterson guilty of murdering her former in-laws after serving them beef Wellington laced with toxic mushrooms. The case drew worldwide attention, with over 250 reporters registered to follow proceedings from the court, and the judge decided to livestream the sentencing hearing.
Gail Patterson and Donald Patterson, her ex-husband's parents, died in August 2023. Patterson was also convicted of murdering Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, who died the same month, and attempting to murder Heather's husband, Ian. Ian spent seven weeks in hospital after being poisoned and received a liver transplant.
Patterson is appealing on seven grounds, including what her lawyers describe as 'fundamental irregularities' related to jury sequestration. Jurors were accommodated at the same hotel as key figures in the case, including a police witness and two prosecutors. Patterson's lawyers also argue that some evidence presented at trial was irrelevant or unfairly prejudicial, and that prosecution cross-examination was 'unfair and oppressive'.
Patterson continues to maintain her innocence, claiming the poisonings were accidental.
