Australia's 'mushroom murderer' handed life in prison with parole

An Australian woman who murdered three people with toxic mushrooms was sentenced on Monday to life in prison with parole after 33 years, capping a trial that sparked a global media frenzy.

Patterson, 50, was convicted in July of triple murder for serving a poisonous meal to her estranged husband's parents, aunt and uncle during a sumptuous beef Wellington lunch at her home in 2023.

Her trial drew podcasters, film crews and true crime fans to a courthouse in the rural town of Morwell, a sedate hamlet in Victoria better known for its prize-winning roses.

Audiences from New York to New Delhi followed every twist of what many now simply call the "mushroom murders".

The motive of the murders remains a mystery.

Death cap mushroom / © AFP

Patterson was sentenced on Monday morning in Melbourne, where Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale said she had inflicted "trauma" on her victims and their families.

"Your failure to exhibit any remorse pours salt into all the victims' wounds," he said.

"The gravity of your offending warrants the imposition of the maximum penalties for your crimes," he said.

- Little emotion -

Beale sentenced Patterson to life in prison but said she would be eligible for parole after 33 years, when she will be 83 years old.

Patterson showed little emotion during her sentencing and closed her eyes for parts of it, national broadcaster ABC said.

She also glared at reporters inside the courtroom when Beale said she would remain a notorious prisoner due to the intense media coverage of the case.

Ian Wilkinson, the only guest to survive the toxic mushroom lunch with Australian murderer Erin Patterson, speaks to members of the media outside the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne on September 8, 2025. / © AFP

Her legal team had argued she should be given the chance of release after 30 years because the notoriety of her case would mean she will spend most of her prison sentence in isolation.

She now has 28 days to appeal her convictions and sentence.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Patterson wore a paisley shirt as the sentence was read out, with her hair tied back.

Speaking after the sentence was handed down, Pastor Ian Wilkinson -- the only guest to survive the toxic mushroom lunch -- thanked those who had supported the family in the aftermath of the murders.

"I'd like to encourage everybody to be kind to each other," he said.

"Please respect our privacy as we continue to grieve and heal."

- 'Heavy burden of grief' -

In July, a 12-person jury found Patterson guilty of murdering her husband Simon's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, as well as his aunt Heather Wilkinson, at her home in Leongatha, in the state of Victoria.

She was also found guilty of attempting to murder Ian, Heather's husband.

Simon had also been invited to the fateful lunch, but pulled out on the eve of the meal, texting his estranged wife that he felt "uncomfortable" attending.

At the time, Patterson's relationship with Simon had turned sour.

The pair -- long estranged but still legally married -- were fighting over Simon's child support contributions.

Throughout a trial lasting more than two months, Patterson maintained the beef-and-pastry dish was accidentally poisoned with death cap mushrooms, the world's most lethal fungus.

Death caps are easily mistaken for other edible varieties and reportedly possess a sweet taste that belies their potent toxicity.

Friends and family of the victims last month told a court of the devastating impact of the crime.

Survivor Ian Wilkinson said at the time that he felt only "half alive" without his wife.

"The silence in our home is a daily reminder," he said.

"I continue to carry a heavy burden of grief over her untimely death."