An Australian, who was found guilty of poisoning and killing three members of her poisonous family, was today sentenced to life in prison with the ability to release conditional only after 33 years, in the epilogue of a case that caused the world.
“The complete absence of remorse on your part is turning the knife to the wound of the victims,” said Judge Christopher Bill of the Victoria State Supreme Court in Victoria, condemning 50 -year -old Erin Patterson. “The seriousness of your actions justifies the imposition of maximum penalties for your crimes,” he added.
Erin Patterson had been found guilty in July for the murder of her parents and aunt’s husband, as well as for attempted murder of his uncle.
It all happened at a family dinner in July 2023 in a small rural city in Southeast Australia. Patterson, a woman with a passion for cooking, but also for crime cases, had served an English specialties, a Wellington calf with poisonous mushrooms.
Escaped her husband
Three guests died, only one survived. Her ex -husband had denied the invitation.
Her motives remain mysterious.
At the table that day were Don and Gail Patterson, the parents of her husband Simon. Simon’s aunt, Heather Wilkinson, and his uncle, Jan, a pastor of a local Baptist Church, were also in the company.
Simon, for his part, had denied the invitation, explaining that he was not feeling well to accept it. “I hope you will change opinion,” Erin Patterson had answered him with SMS.
The two were separated from 2015 without divorcing and their relationship had deteriorated due to diet disagreements.
Erin Patterson had announced to her relatives that she was suffering from cancer and had sought tips on how she should announce it to her children, according to the prosecution.
However, there is no such medical diagnosis. The prosecution concluded that it was a lie to attract them.
For the meal, Australia mixed veal fillets with mushrooms, wrapping the whole in a dough to prepare the Wellington calf. It was a “delicious” dish, as Aunt Heather Wilkinson had said.
Don, Gail and Heather ended up within a week. Only Jan, the pastor, survived after weeks of hospitalization.
Jan Wilkinson, the only survivor of poisoning
Attempts at poisoning and in the past
Erin Patterson was described as a diligent mother, who played an active role in the local population.
In the dock, Patterson assured that she did not want to kill anyone and claimed that poisoning was accidental.
At the end of the trial, the justice revealed, however, that the police suspected her that she had attempted three times from 2021 to 2022 to kill her husband, offering her poisoned food.
It will be available to appeal 28 days after the verdict has been announced.
The deadly mushrooms
These mushrooms, which were identified as Amanites by the phalloids, have a sweet taste that hides their toxic character. It is among the most deadly mushrooms on the planet and responsible for 90% of all deaths due to consumption of poisonous mushrooms.
It is also a widespread species in the forests of Greece.
We find it mainly in broad leaves but also in mixed forests (broad leaves and conifers), autumn and spring, when the edible mushrooms (Volitees, Chandels, Agarika and more) come out.
