Erin Patterson has been sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 33 years after serving up a beef wellington containing death cap mushrooms to four members fo her family
The sole survivor of Erin Patterson’s lunch of beef Wellington pastries laced with foraged death cap mushrooms has broken his silence following her sentencing.
On July 29 2023 Erin Patterson invited her former parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail Patterson’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66, over for lunch at her home in the town of Leongatha, Victoria. She served up a beef wellington containing death cap mushrooms, and her guests soon fell violently ill.
Her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson all died within a week. Pastor Ian Wilkinson was the only person – other than Patterson – who survived the deadly lunch. Ian Wilkinson spent weeks in a hospital but survived after receiving a liver transplant.
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For more than two years following the lunch, Ian Wilkinson kept silent and remained incredibly private about Patterson’s crimes. With Patterson now sentenced to more than three decades behind bars, he took the opportunity to directly speak to the media for the first time since the lunch, reading from a prepared statement to dozens of reporters.
Standing on the steps of the Supreme Court on Monday September 8 Ian Wilkinson says he wants to thank the police, particularly the Homicide Squad and Detective Stephen Eppinstall.
He said: “They made a professional, efficient and effective investigation into what happened at the lunch. They brought to light the truth of what happened with the death of three good people.”
Ian Wilkinson has thanked the health workers and services who treated him, his wife and Don and Gail Patterson. He said: “I’d like to encourage all those involved to keep turning up and serving others. Our lives and the life of our community depends on the kindness of others. I would like to encourage everybody to be kind to each other.”
Ian Wilkinson has also thanked the Office of Public Prosecutions and Nanette Rogers. He said: “The court processes are a little bewildering to lay people like me and we are grateful for their expertise, their hard work and their perseverance that has secured this conviction. I’d also like to commend them for their kindness and compassion showed to us throughout this long process.”
Ian Wilkinson concluded by thanking the “many people” from across Australia and around the world who have sent messages of support to his family. He left the court, asking for the media to respect his family’s privacy as they continue to grieve and heal.
“Thank you for listening. I hope you all have a great day.”
Justice Beale sentenced Patterson to the following:
- Attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson: 25 years in prison.
- Murder of Heather Wilkinson: life in prison.
- Murder of Don Patterson: life in prison.
- Murder of Gail Patterson: life in prison.
Full sentence: life with a non-parole period of 33 years.
Patterson will be taken back to the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, where she has been sentenced to spend at least the next 33 years of her life. Justice Beale said: “There is a substantial chance that for your protection you will continue to be held in solitary confinement for years to come.”
She now has until October 6 to lodge an appeal against her conviction or sentence or both.