Erin Patterson, 52, has failed in her bid to overturn her murder convictions and will now spend the rest of her life in prison. The Victorian Court of Appeal on Friday dismissed all grounds of her appeal against her convictions for murdering three relatives and attempting to kill another by serving them a toxic mushroom-laced meal in 2023. The court also ruled that her original life sentence, which included a non-parole period of 33 years, was inadequate.

Judges agreed with the prosecution's argument that the sentence should not allow for the possibility of release, stating that Patterson's crimes were "extraordinarily cold and calculated" and "had to be denounced in the strongest terms." Justice Stephen McLeish, speaking for the panel, said it was "inappropriate to fix a non-parole period" given the "shocking criminality" involved.

Patterson was found guilty last year by a jury of murdering her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson. She served them beef Wellington containing death cap mushrooms at her home in rural Victoria. Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson, a local pastor, was the fourth victim of the poisoned meal and survived after weeks in hospital, though he continues to experience health issues.

The estranged husband of the accused, Simon Patterson, was meant to attend the lunch but cancelled last minute. He had reportedly believed his wife had attempted to poison him on multiple occasions over several years.

Patterson was initially sentenced in September, with the trial judge including a 33-year non-parole period, citing the likely harsh prison conditions she would face. Her legal team subsequently launched an appeal, raising seven grounds for overturning the convictions. These included claims that a hotel booking issue, which saw the jury stay in the same accommodation as the prosecution, a key police witness, and the media, compromised the trial's integrity.

Further arguments from the defence team included assertions that certain evidence presented to the jury was irrelevant and prejudicial. This included cell tower data suggesting Patterson had visited areas where death cap mushrooms grow and Facebook posts where she reportedly complained about her in-laws. Conversely, the defence argued the judge wrongly excluded evidence that would have supported Patterson's long-time hobby of mushroom foraging.

The defence also contended that the prosecution's extensive cross-examination of Patterson was unfair and oppressive, and that the Crown's arguments regarding motive were inconsistent. However, the appeal judges on Friday dismissed all seven grounds presented by Patterson's legal team.

Patterson now has 28 days to decide whether to seek permission to appeal to the High Court of Australia.