Erin Patterson, infamously known as the “mushroom murderer,” is preparing to appeal her convictions for three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
The Victorian Supreme Court has granted her an additional 28 days to file the necessary legal documents, after her original deadline was set to expire at 11:59 PM on Monday. Patterson’s new barrister, Richard Edney, successfully applied for the extension, with Justice Christopher Beale citing the court’s new practice note which automatically grants brief appeal extensions.
Patterson was sentenced in September to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 33 years following her conviction for the murders of her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, aged 70, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66. The case sparked widespread media attention due to its shocking nature and the psychological profile of the accused, raising public debate over both the severity of the sentence and Patterson’s mental state at the time of the offences.
Edney told the court that the appeal will address both procedural errors and the handling of evidence during the original trial. Patterson claims that the investigative process was flawed and that she received improper guidance from authorities during early stages of the inquiry, which may have affected the course of her defence.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has yet to decide whether to challenge Patterson’s sentence. Legal analysts suggest the appeal could prolong media coverage and public interest in a case that has already drawn significant attention for its unprecedented nature in Victoria.
