Court hears appeals in death cap mushroom poisoning case

Erin Patterson has appealed her murder convictions at Victoria's Court of Appeal in Melbourne. Patterson was found guilty of killing three people and seriously harming a fourth at a lunch she prepared in July 2023. She served her guests beef Wellington containing death cap mushrooms. The victims were relatives of her estranged husband. She received a life sentence with a minimum of 33 years before parole.

Her lawyers argued that the jury stayed in the same hotel as police witnesses and prosecution staff, which was improper. They also said the cross-examination was unfair. Prosecutors, however, want the court to remove her chance of parole entirely. Three judges heard the defence on Wednesday and the prosecution on Thursday.