Erin Patterson appeal ends in life without parole, broadcaster reports

The court report includes judges' reasons, a jury-accommodation appeal ground and reactions from Leongatha, with a High Court bid reportedly planned.

Channel: 7NEWS Australia ·

AustraliaStory of October 31, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? One of 7NEWS Australia's most watched videos since yesterday, with 34,177 views.

7NEWS Australia: The news service of Australia's Seven Network, owned by Seven West Media. 2.3M subscribers and 1.7B views.

Mushroom killer's appeal backfires | 7NEWS

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Press to jump

0:21Johnson reports that Patterson's appeal failed and her sentence was increased to life without parole.
0:34Judge Stephen McLeish describes the offending as carefully planned and deliberate.
1:31The report examines a jury-accommodation appeal ground and the prospects of a High Court challenge.
3:10Leongatha residents discuss the outcome, while Wright reports that Patterson's home is restrained under court order.
4:43The closing coverage shows Patterson being transported to the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre.

Erin Patterson's attempt to overturn her mushroom-poisoning convictions has ended with a harsher sentence: life imprisonment without parole, Australian broadcaster 7NEWS Australia reports.

The report, titled "Mushroom killer's appeal backfires | 7NEWS", shows Court of Appeal judge Stephen McLeish delivering the decision. "The offending was carefully planned and deliberate," he says, later describing it as "extraordinarily cold and calculated."

Patterson was convicted of three murders and one attempted murder after serving relatives a lunch containing poisonous mushrooms at her home in Leongatha, in the state of Victoria. The poisoning occurred in July 2023.

Reporter Blake Johnson says the appeal was dismissed in under ten minutes. His report examines an appeal ground concerning the jury's hotel accommodation and describes the prospects of a further challenge in Australia's High Court as slim. It also identifies Patterson as the first woman in Victoria to receive life without parole.

Outside court, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush says, "Justice is served." The bulletin then moves to Leongatha, where reporter Jordy Wright speaks with residents about the outcome and reports that Patterson's home is restrained under a court order. Footage shows her being transported to the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre prison.

Despite residents discussing an end to the legal process, a subsequent report published by the broadcaster on October 31 says Patterson reportedly intends to take her challenge to the High Court. That describes a planned further bid, not a court's agreement to hear it.

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