Australian court orders Erin Patterson never to be released from prison for mushroom poisonings
An Australian appeals court has ordered triple-murderer Erin Patterson to spend the rest of her life in prison without the possibility of parole. Victoria state Court of Appeal judges dismissed Patterson's bid to overturn her convictions and instead increased her punishment, citing the shocking criminality of her actions. The decision places Patterson into a rare group of criminals in the country who will never be released. She poisoned four of her estranged husband's relatives using death cap mushrooms, resulting in three deaths and severe illness for a fourth victim.
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- ✓ Erin Patterson was ordered by an Australian appeals court never to be released from prison.
- ✓ Three judges of the Victoria state Court of Appeal dismissed Patterson's appeal of her convictions.
- ✓ The court cited shocking criminality for removing Patterson's parole eligibility.
- ✓ Patterson poisoned four of her estranged husband's relatives with death cap mushrooms.
What changed
Victoria's Court of Appeal dismissed Patterson's conviction challenge, granted a prosecution cross-appeal, and removed her minimum term to order life without parole.
Live updates
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Australian Court Orders Erin Patterson to Die in Prison
An Australian appeals court has ordered triple-murderer Erin Patterson to spend the rest of her life in prison without the possibility of parole. Victoria state Court of Appeal judges dismissed Patterson's bid to overturn her convictions and instead increased her punishment, citing the shocking criminality of her actions. The decision places Patterson into a rare group of criminals in the country who will never be released. She poisoned four of her estranged husband's relatives using death cap mushrooms, resulting in three deaths and severe illness for a fourth victim.
Why it matters
Patterson originally faced a prison sentence that included a 33-year non-parole period before prosecutors challenged the term as too light. The Victoria state Court of Appeal rejected her conviction challenge while granting the prosecution cross-appeal. This ruling eliminates any chance of freedom for Patterson, distinguishing her case within the Australian justice system.
What is confirmed
- Erin Patterson was ordered by an Australian appeals court never to be released from prison.
- Three judges of the Victoria state Court of Appeal dismissed Patterson's appeal of her convictions.
- The court cited shocking criminality for removing Patterson's parole eligibility.
- Patterson poisoned four of her estranged husband's relatives with death cap mushrooms.
- The appeal ruling replaced Patterson's previous 33-year minimum prison term with a life sentence without parole.
What to watch next
- Any potential further appeals to the High Court of Australia
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (16)
- BBC — Australian mushroom murderer loses appeal to overturn convictions and gets harsher sentence
- CNN — Mushroom killer to be jailed for life after appeals court finds sentence too light
- The Guardian — Erin Patterson began the day with hope. Now Australia’s mushroom murderer knows she’s likely to die in jail
- BBC — Australian mushroom murderer Erin Patterson loses appeal to overturn convictions
- AP News — Australian court orders Erin Patterson never to be released from prison for mushroom poisonings
- CBS News — Woman convicted of mushroom poison murders in Australia ordered to never be released from prison
- ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation — Erin Patterson one of few Australians sentenced to die in prison
- abcnews.com — Court orders Erin Patterson never to be released from prison ...
- www.nbcnews.com — Australian court orders Erin Patterson never to be released ...
- www.independent.co.uk — Australian court orders Erin Patterson never to be released ...
- www.ctvnews.ca — Australian court orders Erin Patterson never to be released ...
- globalnews.ca — Mushroom killer Erin Patterson can never be released from ...
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