Mushroom killer Erin Patterson's appeal decision set for Friday
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Erin Patterson has always maintained her innocence. (AAP: James Ross,file)
In short:
Erin Patterson will find out whether her appeal against a life sentence has been successful on Friday.
Patterson murdered three relatives and tried to kill another after serving poisoned beef Wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms in 2023.
What's next?
If the appeal succeeds, Victoria's Court of Appeal could order a re-trial or acquit Patterson entirely.
Triple murderer Erin Patterson will learn the outcome of her appeal on Friday.
Three judges of Victoria's highest court, the Court of Appeal, will hand down the judgment at 10am AEDT.
Patterson is serving a life sentence for murdering three relatives and trying to kill another after serving them beef Wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms in 2023.
She was found guilty in 2025 but appealed the verdict.
Patterson's appeal included arguments that there were irregularities with the jury sequestration process, that the trial judge made errors, and that prosecutors conducted an "unfair" cross-examination.
If Patterson's appeal succeeds, the Court of Appeal could order a re-trial or acquit her entirely.
A loss would leave the 52-year-old, who has always maintained her innocence, with few legal options to continue fighting the case.
Prosecutors also appealed the life sentence handed down by Justice Christopher Beale because it included a non-parole period that could see Patterson walk free in the year 2056.
The Crown argued the possibility of parole made the sentence "manifestly inadequate" given the seriousness of her crimes.
If the Court of Appeal upholds the Crown's appeal, Patterson will be re-sentenced.
Patterson was convicted of murdering in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, along with Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, after cooking a beef Wellington lunch and serving toxic portions on grey coloured plates.
She avoided sickness by eating a poison-free meal on an orange plate, prosecutors alleged.
Gail Wilkinson's husband, Ian Wilkinson, also suffered death cap mushroom poisoning but survived after a long stint in hospital.
Patterson testified that she did not intend to poison her lunch guests.
The case made international headlines, first with news of the lunch guests' illness and Patterson's tearful public denials and weeks-long trial.
Friday's appeal decision will be livestreamed publicly on the Supreme Court of Victoria website.
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