The Supreme Court of Victoria in Australia begins this week the hearing of the appeal of Erin Patterson, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing her three relatives with poisonous mushrooms.
The 51-year-old is not expected to be physically in the courtroom, but will follow the proceedings via video link from prison. Last year, Patterson was found guilty of three murders and one attempted murder, and in September she was sentenced to life in prison.
The victims were her estranged husband’s parents, both 70 years old, and her mother-in-law’s 66-year-old sister. The latter’s husband survived, but was hospitalized for several weeks in serious condition.
The prosecution alleged that the victims suffered a slow and painful death after consuming a meal of meat prepared in the “Wellington” style, which used poisonous “death cap” mushrooms.
Patterson has always denied the charges. In November last year, she appealed the decision, arguing that the trial was unfair. Meanwhile, prosecutors have also appealed the sentence, asking that the 33-year period before she is eligible for parole be removed.
The appeal hearing in Melbourne will last two days. If Patterson wins the appeal, the convictions could be overturned and the court could order a new trial or, in rare cases, acquit her. If prosecutors win, she could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.