Prosecutors in Australia have filed an appeal against the sentence of mushroom murderer Erin Patterson, stating that it was 'manifestly inadequate'.
Last month, Patterson, 51, was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of release for at least 33 years after murdering three relatives and attempting to kill another by serving them a toxic mushroom meal.
On Monday, the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) confirmed the appeal had been submitted, arguing the punishment did not reflect the severity of the crimes.
Patterson’s sentence is one of the longest ever imposed on a female offender in Australia, meaning she will be in her 80s before she can apply for parole.
Last week, Patterson's barrister indicated she plans to appeal her conviction as well, although this process has not yet been formally initiated.
For the appeal to proceed, Patterson's legal team must establish grounds for claims of legal errors to be considered by the appellate court in Victoria.
The case attracted media attention globally, leading to an influx of journalists, podcasters, and documentary makers to the small courthouse in Morwell.
Patterson killed her in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, by serving them individual portions of beef Wellington containing death cap mushrooms in 2023. Heather's husband survived the poisonous meal but has faced sustained health challenges following the incident.
Patterson's estranged husband, Simon, was meant to join the lunch but canceled, expressing concerns over his wife's history of potentially attempting to poison him.
During her sentencing, Justice Christopher Beale remarked on the heinousness of Patterson's crimes but noted that harsh prison conditions influenced the decision to allow her eligibility for parole in the distant future.
The judge highlighted Patterson's solitary confinement experience, extreme media scrutiny, and significant risk from other inmates as factors that warranted careful consideration during sentencing.
