Erin Patterson, whose name has become synonymous with one of Australia’s most shocking criminal cases, has been sentenced to life in prison with a 33‑year non‑parole period for murdering three relatives and attempting to kill a fourth.
The lunch she served – beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms – ended in tragedy in July 2023, and now has earned her a sentence few in Australia receive.
Justice Christopher Beale handed down the harsh sentence on September 8, 2025, declaring Patterson must spend at least 33 years behind bars before she can even apply for parole. That means she may not be released until 2056.
She is said to have been expressionless during Monday's hearing, per a correspondent from the BBC, who said she kept her eyes closed for much of it and only opened them when the judge read out her sentence.
In July 2023, Patterson hosted a lunch for her estranged husband’s relatives—Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson—serving them beef Wellingtons tainted with deadly Amanita phalloides, known as death cap mushrooms. The three died shortly after; Heather’s husband Ian Wilkinson survived but endured a severe hospital stay lasting weeks.
This sentencing was historic: the first time a life‑sentence hearing in Victoria was broadcast live.
Justice Beale did not mince words. From the BBC‑cited coverage: he described the crime as involving “an enormous betrayal of trust,” particularly because the victims had been kind to her and her children. The judge called her behavior “pitiless” and said the poisoning was premeditated.
Patterson continues to insist the deaths were accidental and has denied using foraged mushrooms, though she was convicted. However, the judge pointed to her lack of remorse and premeditation when granting the non‑parole period.
Due to her notoriety and concerns about her safety within the prison population, Patterson will serve her sentence under highly controlled and mostly isolated conditions.
Currently 50 years old, Patterson could be eligible for parole at age 82 in 2056—but release is far from certain.
With the sentencing complete, the question of why Patterson committed the crime remains unanswered.
Patterson has 28 days to lodge an appeal against either the conviction or the sentence.