Erin Patterson Appeal: What We Know

Video · 3:41 · Watch on YouTube

Erin Patterson was convicted by a jury on July 7, 2025 of three murders and one attempted murder after a lunch at her home in Leongatha, Victoria, Australia. She was sentenced to life with a 33-year non-parole period and has always said the poisoning was an accident. The Victorian Court of Appeal heard her conviction appeal and the prosecutors' sentence appeal on Aug. 19-20, 2026 and reserved its decision. As of the date of this video, no ruling has been delivered.

What's confirmed

THE APPEALS: WHAT EACH SIDE ARGUED (arguments, not findings)

1. July 29, 2023Erin Patterson serves beef Wellington at her home in Leongatha to four guests: Don and Gail Patterson, Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, and Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson. The meal contained death cap mushrooms. Don, Gail and Heather died; Ian survived. ABC News; NBC News; CBS News
2. July 7, 2025A jury finds her guilty on all four counts: three of murder, one of attempted murder. Supreme Court of Victoria; CBS News; Al Jazeera
3. Sept. 8, 2025Justice Christopher Beale sentences her to life in prison with a 33-year non-parole period, citing substantial planning and a lack of remorse. NBC News; ABC News
4. Aug. 19-20, 2026Three judges (Stephen McLeish, Lesley Taylor and Peter Kidd) hear both appeals over two days and reserve their decision. Supreme Court of Victoria; ABC News; UPI
5. Her conviction appeal runs on seven grounds. The biggest: that the jury was sequestered in the same hotel as the lead police witness and the prosecutors. Her barrister called that "catastrophic," while conceding there is no evidence anyone spoke to jurors. ABC News, Aug. 19, 2026
6. The Crown called the argument far-fetched and said guilty verdicts were "inescapable." ABC News, Aug. 19, 2026
7. The other grounds challenge evidence the jury heard, the cross-examination and the closing address. ABC News; UPI
8. Prosecutors appealed the sentence. Director of Public Prosecutions Brendan Kissane told the court: "This was offending of utmost cruelty involving enormous betrayal." They say 33 years is manifestly inadequate and that the only fitting sentence is life without parole. ABC News, Aug. 20, 2026
9. Her lawyers answered that the sentencing judge did everything right and that her time in custody will be spent largely in isolation. ABC News; CBS News

What we don't know

• When the Court of Appeal will rule. Its notice says judgment "will be delivered at a later date" and gives no date.
• Whether the convictions will stand, or whether the sentence will change. Only the court decides.

What happens next

• The court delivers its judgment at a date it hasn't announced. We'll update this video and its description when it does.

Chapters

1. 0:00Erin Patterson appeal: what we know
2. 0:15Erin Patterson appeal: the Leongatha lunch
3. 0:53Erin Patterson verdict and sentence
4. 1:22Erin Patterson appeal: her seven grounds
5. 2:02Prosecutors' sentence appeal: what they argue
6. 2:39Erin Patterson appeal: ruling still pending

Sources

1. Supreme Court of Victoria, notice on the appeals Primary recordsupremecourt.vic.gov.au/news/erin-patterson-appeals-livestreamed
2. ABC News, Aug. 19, 2026 (day 1) Reportingabc.net.au/news/2026-08-19/erin-patterson-appeals-mushroom-murder-conviction-day-1/107054134
3. ABC News, Aug. 20, 2026 (day 2) Reportingabc.net.au/news/2026-08-20/erin-patterson-appeal-mushroom-murder-court/107059860
4. UPI, Aug. 19, 2026 Reportingupi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/08/19/australia-Erin-Patterson-appeal-begins/3221787138169/
5. NBC News, sentencing Reportingnbcnews.com/world/australia/australian-woman-convicted-killing-3-poisonous-mushrooms-sentenced-rcna229719
6. CBS News, verdict Reportingcbsnews.com/amp/losangeles/news/poison-mushrooms-killings-australian-woman-convicted-erin-patterson
7. Al Jazeera, verdict Reportingaljazeera.com/news/2025/7/7/australian-woman-guilty-of-mushroom-murders-all-to-know

Spot an error? Email corrections@undercurrentdaily.com. See our corrections policy. Have information about this case? Contact the investigating agency first.

Part of What We Know: open cases, confirmed facts only · YouTube playlist