Mushroom poisoner Erin Patterson who killed family with deadly beef Wellington 'should never be freed'

Mushroom poisoner Erin Patterson who killed family with deadly beef Wellington 'should never be freed' Erin Patterson, who killed three members of her estranged husband's family with a beef Wellington, appeared back in court via video link to appeal her conviction The triple-murderer who poisoned four of her estranged husband's family members with a beef Wellington should never be released from prison, a prosecutor told a court. Erin Patterson was sentenced to life behind bars last year after she served up a meal laced with death cap mushrooms to her in-laws, at her rural home in Leongatha, Australia, in July 2023. Patterson's estranged husband, Simon Patterson, was invited to the fatal lunch but did not attend. His parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, died. Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson, spent weeks in hospital, but survived. Patterson, on Wednesday, began her appeal against convictions on three counts of murder and one of attempted murder but prosecutor Brendan Kissane told three judges Patterson should never be considered for parole. Mr Kissane, at Victoria state Court of Appeal, said the judgment that Patterson must serve 33 years of a life sentence before she can apply for parole was "manifestly inadequate". The prosecutor added that if the judges did not agree with his suggestion to keep the beef Wellington murderer behind bars, then they should impose a non-parole period longer than 33 years. Mr Kissane said: "That's a harsh submission to make. But… it's demanded by the nature of the offending." Few prisoners in Australia are sentenced without prospect of release on parole. The prosecutor told the court that the 51-year-old murderer would be around 82 years old before she could be considered for release under her current sentence, but he argued this was still too lenient. Patterson was not present in court on both days of her trial and instead tuned in to the proceedings via video link from prison. Patterson is held at a high-security women's prison, called Melbourne's Dame Phyllis Frost Centre. The mushroom killer is being held at the Gordon Unit, which is used for prisoners deemed to be at high risk from other inmates. During her sentencing in September 2025, trial judge Christopher Bale said there was a "substantial chance" that Patterson could be held in "solitary confinement for years to come". Despite this, Mr Kissane argued to the appeal court that the judge's conclusion was not supported by evidence and that her prison conditions were reviewed every month. Patterson's lawyer, Richard Edney, said she was being held in solitary confinement as defined by the United Nations - confinement for 22 hours or more a day without meaningful human contact. Patterson argued during her trial that the poisoning was an accident but Mr Kissane dubbed her crimes "pitiless behaviour" and "truly dreadful". The murderer has also appealed against her convictions. Defence lawyer Richard Edney's first ground for appeal was an error that led to jury members being in the same hotel as a police witness and members of the prosecution team. Mr Edney said: "This was a very serious breach of sequestration." Another defence lawyer, Veronika Drago, said there was no evidence that Patterson had read online posts that reported death cap mushrooms had been seen near the towns of Loch and Outtrim. The three appeal judges reserved their decision on both appeals but it is not clear when a verdict could be reached, which could taker months.