Australia's mushroom murderer Erin Patterson will learn today whether she could face a retrial or a longer jail term, as Victoria's highest court hands down its decision on two appeals regarding her triple murder case. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
The court of appeal is set to rule on the two appeals from 10am local time. The ruling could be very quick and over in a matter of minutes. Patterson, 52, is not expected to attend the appeal decision in person.
Background of the case
Erin Patterson was last year sentenced to life imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 33 years, for the murders of her estranged husband's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt Heather Wilkinson, after she hosted them for lunch.
Patterson was also convicted of the attempted murder of Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson, who survived the beef wellington laced with death cap mushrooms after spending weeks in hospital.
Grounds for appeal
In August, the court heard Erin Patterson should have been given no possibility of ever being released from prison, or a non-parole period so lengthy that she was likely to die behind bars.
Her lawyers argued seven grounds for her appeal, including that allowing jurors to stay in the same hotel as police and the prosecution while they deliberated over their verdicts in the triple murder trial represented a "catastrophic" failure of the justice system.
The panel
The appeals were heard by justices Lesley Taylor, Stephen McLeish and Peter Kidd, who heard arguments from her legal team and prosecutors in August.
Today's decision could lead to a retrial or a longer prison sentence for Patterson. The court's ruling is expected at 10am.