MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian appeals court on Friday ordered triple-murderer Erin Patterson to never be released from prison because of the “shocking criminality” involved in poisoning four of her estranged husband’s relatives with death cap mushrooms.
The three judges of the Victoria state Court of Appeal dismissed Patterson's appeal of her convictions and upheld prosecutors' challenge to the leniency of her 33-year nonparole sentence, meaning she will spend the rest of her life behind bars. Beforehand, she would have been 82 years old when she could be considered for release.
“This offending was extraordinarily cold and calculated and stands to be denounced in the strongest terms,” Justice Stephen McLeish said on behalf of all three judges.
“In all the circumstances after anxious consideration, we have concluded that the case involved such shocking criminality that it is inappropriate to fix a nonparole period,” McLeish added.
Patterson is only the second woman in Australia to be imprisoned for life without possibility of parole. The first is meatworker Katherine Knight, who was sentenced in New South Wales state in 2001 for the murder a year earlier of her partner John Price, whom she'd stabbed at least 37 times.
Patterson's convictions stemmed from a family meal she hosted at her rural home in Leongatha in July 2023.
She can apply to Australia's High Court to overturn the verdicts on her sentence and her convictions. The High Court is her last appeal option.
Patterson insisted she added death cap mushrooms to the beef Wellington pastry dishes accidentally.
She was sentenced last year to three life sentences for murder and 25 years for attempted murder.
The deaths of Patterson’s parents-in-law Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, within days of having lunch immediately attracted an extraordinary level of global media attention.
The case has also inspired podcasts, books and screen adaptations.
Emmy-nominated actor Melanie Lynskey announced this week she will star as Erin Patterson in a six-episode series for the subscription video-on-demand streaming service Paramount+.
Lynskey is also executive producer of the series that dramatizes the 97 days from the fatal lunch until Patterson's arrest.
Heather’s husband Ian Wilkinson survived the lunch after spending weeks in hospital. Erin Patterson was convicted of his attempted murder.
Prosecutors argued at an appeal hearing in August that she should never become eligible for parole.
They argued the minimum period behind bars did not reflect the “calculated criminality” of the case.
McLeish said Patterson's intent to murder all four was sustained for almost three weeks from when she invited them to lunch.
Her crimes involved an “elaborate series of deceptions” including falsely claiming a cancer diagnosis to explain the absences of her two children from the lunch, the judge said.
The only survivor, Ian Wilkinson, testified that Erin Patterson had told her guests she wanted their advice about what to tell the children about her diagnosis.
McLeish noted Erin Patterson had destroyed evidence, denied foraging for mushrooms and repeatedly made false claims about where the mushrooms had come from.
“The offending was carefully planned and deliberate. It represented a cruel breach of trust,” McLeish said.
Patterson opted not to attend court and watched the verdicts by video link from prison.
Because of her notoriety, Patterson is held in the high-security Gordon Unit of Melbourne’s Dame Phyllis Frost Centre women’s prison. The unit is for prisoners assessed as being at high risk from other inmates.
In sentencing her in September 2025, trial judge Christopher Bale said there was a “substantial chance” that Patterson could be held in “solitary confinement for years to come.”
Patterson’s estranged husband, Simon Patterson, was invited to the lunch but declined the day before.
After her conviction, pretrial evidence was released that detailed the husband's suspicion that Erin Patterson had previously attempted to kill him.
Simon Patterson testified at a pretrial hearing that he had declined the lunch invitation out of fear.
FILE- Erin Patterson arrives at the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Jason Edwards/AAP Image, POOL via AP, File)
Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson’s high-powered offense vs. the defending Super Bowl champions and Mike Macdonald’s stingy defense.
The Bears-Seahawks matchup on Monday night is a battle between coaching masterminds.
Chicago (5-2) has won two in a row since Williams returned from a three-game absence, and the star quarterback threw for 613 yards in the victories over Atlanta and New England.
Seattle (4-3) shut down Patrick Mahomes, Kenneth Walker III and handed the Chiefs their first loss of the season.
Despite losing Williams for three games, Johnson’s offense is third in yards (390.7 per game) and eighth in scoring (25.7 points).
The Seahawks have the NFL’s No. 1 defense (233.9 yards per game) for the second straight season and are fourth in points allowed (17.9). On offense, the Sam Darnold-Jaxon Smith-Njigba connection has been spectacular.
Seattle is a 3-point favorite at home. Pro Picks, whick kicked off the week with a victory when the Packers beat the Panthers 27-19 on Thursday night, likes the Seahawks: 24-20
Line: Cowboys minus 7
If the Cardinals play more like the team that beat the Rams than the one that has lost 10 straight at home, they’ll have a shot. Arizona’s defense is last in scoring, allowing 29.7 points per game. The Cowboys aren’t much better. They’ve given up 25.7. This could be a shootout. Now that Dallas proved it can run the ball effectively with Javonte Williams, that should help an already prolific passing attack led by Dak Prescott.
COWBOYS: 27-23
Line: Buccaneers minus 2½
The Falcons handed the 49ers their first loss and now face the rejuvenated Buccaneers. Michael Penix Jr. excelled in a game where the offensive line didn't even allow one hurry. Bijan Robinson leads the NFL in rushing but faces the NFL's second-ranked run defense. Baker Mayfield’s return sparked an impressive all-around team performance last week. The Bucs are 0-4 at home.
BUCCANEERS: 26-22
Line: Bills minus 3
The Ravens need Lamar Jackson to return but he can’t help them if the defense doesn’t improve after surrendering 35 points in the second half to Cincinnati. Josh Allen and the Bills are coming off a bye. Buffalo leads the NFL in scoring with 32.8 points per game but the defense has allowed an average of 28.5 each game. The Bills have won the last two matchups by a combined total of three points, including a playoff game.
BILLS: 28-22
Line: Steelers minus 3½
Deshaun Watson has led a game-winning drive in each of his Cleveland’s five wins and the Browns have already matched their 2025 win total in the first year under coach Todd Monken. Aaron Rodgers has been efficient and the Steelers are winning despite some all-around inconsistencies. The Browns beat the Steelers 27-24 on Oct. 1. Pittsburgh has won the last five home games in this series. Five of the last seven meetings between the AFC North rivals were decided by one score.
STEELERS: 23-17
Line: Jaguars minus 10
The Colts are trading away veterans, stockpiling draft picks and looking ahead to 2027. They still have Jonathan Taylor but he’s facing the league’s No. 1 run defense this week. The Jaguars are coming off a bye that followed a split of two games in London. They’ve won 10 straight over Indianapolis in Jacksonville. Trevor Lawrence has 14 TD passes and four picks.
JAGUARS: 26-17
Line: Jets minus 1½
The Raiders have lost four straight but Kirk Cousins isn’t the problem and won’t lose his job to Fernando Mendoza just yet. Las Vegas’ defense has allowed 35.8 points per game over the last five weeks. The Jets keep playing like the Jets. Aaron Glenn can’t manage the clock, and the team makes too many mistakes. Geno Smith faces his former team. Maybe that’ll spark New York.
RAIDERS: 23-22
Line: Lions minus 3
The Vikings are the only undefeated team in the NFL thanks to a fierce defense and strong special teams. But they need Kyler Murray and the league’s 29th-ranked offense to be more productive. The Lions are second in the NFL in scoring at 30.7 points per game. Jared Goff is having his best season — 14 TDs, no picks — and Jahmyr Gibbs is third in the league in scrimmage yards. If Dan Campbell doesn’t make any reckless decisions on fourth downs, the Lions can end Minnesota’s winning streak.
BEST BET: LIONS: 27-16
Line: Bengals minus 11½
The Titans are playing better than their results, staying close and finding ways to lose. Their defense gave up nearly 500 yards to Cleveland and has a bigger challenge against Joe Burrow and the Bengals. Cincinnati racked up 35 points in the second half vs. Baltimore. Burrow has eight TDs, no picks in the last two games.
BENGALS: 28-19
Line: Rams minus 6½
The Chargers are the away team against the Rams in the battle between So-Fi Stadium tenants. It’s been a horrendous start for Justin Herbert and an offense that’s last in scoring under first-year coordinator Mike McDaniel. The up-and-down Rams can’t afford any letdowns. Matthew Stafford has had three straight games with a passer rating over 111. The teams have split two previous meetings since both moved to Los Angeles.
RAMS: 30-20
Line: Chiefs minus 1½
Patrick Mahomes, Kenneth Walker III and the rest of Kansas City’s offense was shut down by Seattle and now faces Denver’s talented defense that hasn’t played up to expectations. Bo Nix finally got going last week and the Broncos might have 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II back from injury. The Chiefs routed the Broncos in Week 1.
UPSET SPECIAL: BRONCOS: 20-18
Line: Patriots minus 6½
The Patriots are coming off a mini-bye after a Thursday night loss to Chicago snapped their three-game winning streak. Drake Maye has 12 TD passes and two interceptions in the last four games. Coach Jeff Hafley earned his first win last week against the Jets but the Dolphins are a long way from being competitive. New England had lost five straight games at Miami before a win in September of 2025.
PATRIOTS: 27-16
Line: Commanders minus 6 1/2
Hard to believe these two teams met in the NFC championship game 21 months ago. Tanner McKee hasn’t been the problem for the injury-riddled Eagles. A defense that was supposed to be among the best in the league has been terrible. If Saquon Barkley is healthy, Philadelphia’s offense has energy. Jayden Daniels won’t have top target Terry McLaurin and needs to find a way to extend drives. The Commanders’ offense is last in the NFL in third-down conversions.
COMMANDERS: 23-20
Last week: Straight up: 9-5. Against spread: 11-2-1.
Overall: Straight up: 65-42-1. Against spread: 57-48-3.
Best Bet: Straight up: 4-3. Against spread: 3-4.
Upset Special: Straight up: 2-5. Against spread: 2-5.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald responds to reporters' questions during a news conference after an NFL football game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson responds to a question during a news conference after an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Chicago, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) and Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp, left, leave the field after an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Seattle, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams rolls out of the pocket during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Chicago, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
