Victoria’s Supreme Court will deliver the sentence for triple-murderer Erin Patterson on Monday morning, marking a historic first with the hearing broadcast live. For the first time in the state, a television camera will be allowed inside the courtroom to film the sentencing, with a 10-second delay.
The 50-year-old Patterson could face life in prison without the possibility of parole. Justice Christopher Beale will announce her sentence from 9.30am in a hearing expected to last around 30 minutes.
In July, a jury found Patterson guilty of murdering Don and Gail Patterson, the parents of her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, as well as his aunt, Heather Wilkinson. She was also convicted of attempting to murder Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson.
The crimes took place during a lunch in July 2023. Patterson deliberately served her guests beef wellingtons laced with lethal death cap mushrooms. The case shocked the state for its calculated cruelty.
Victoria’s courts typically prohibit media recording inside courtrooms. However, the Supreme Court granted permission for a television camera to broadcast Beale delivering Patterson’s sentence. The footage will air live with a 10-second delay, and media outlets may rebroadcast it.
In a pre-sentencing hearing last month, Ian Wilkinson delivered an emotional victim impact statement. As a pastor, he expressed forgiveness for Patterson’s attempt on his life. “Now I am no longer Erin Patterson’s victim, and she has become the victim of my kindness,” he said.
Wilkinson also said he felt compelled to seek justice for the three murder victims. Despite the trauma, he bore Patterson no ill will and hoped she would use her time in custody to reform.
Simon Patterson highlighted the impact on their two children, born in 2009 and 2014, saying the crimes had deprived them of a normal relationship with their mother.
Both the prosecution and defence agreed that Patterson should receive a life sentence. Justice Beale described her crimes as “horrendous.” Prosecutors argued there should be no possibility of parole, while the defence requested the chance for her eventual release.
Patterson’s defence barrister, Colin Mandy SC, said her high-profile case resulted in extreme prison conditions. She spends 22 hours a day locked in her cell. Mandy argued this isolation increases the burden of imprisonment compared to other prisoners.
Prosecutor Jane Warren agreed that these conditions could be taken into account. Beale noted that Patterson’s long periods in solitary confinement since her November 2023 arrest “don’t sound very humane.”
Patterson has until October 6 to file an appeal against her conviction, her sentence, or both. She has consistently pleaded not guilty, claiming the deaths were a tragic accident.
In Victoria, the maximum penalty for murder is life imprisonment without parole. Standard sentences, as guided by the Sentencing Advisory Council of Victoria, usually set 25 years for murder. Judges must consider these guidelines when deciding on punishment.
The last triple-murderer sentenced in Victoria was Robert Farquharson, convicted in 2007 for killing his children. He received a life sentence with a minimum term of 33 years.
Monday’s sentencing will not only decide Patterson’s fate but also set a new precedent in courtroom transparency for Victoria.
