Erin Patterson sentencing live updates: Mushroom murderer sentenced to life with non-parole period of 33 years

Erin Patterson has just left the Supreme Court of Victoria in the Melbourne CBD, now returning to the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, where she may spend the rest of her life behind bars.

Patterson was sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 33 years.

Justice Christopher Beale ruled that Patterson had already served 676 days (22 months) while behind bars during pre-sentence detention.

Patterson, aged 50, will celebrate her 51st birthday behind bars on September 30 and would be 81 years old before she could apply for parole.

Still in Patterson’s arsenal is her ability to appeal the Supreme Court ruling. She has 28 days to decide if she will appeal or not.

Triple murderer Erin Patterson sat emotionless as she was sentenced to life in prison with a fixed non-parole period of 33 years.

During the nearly 45-minute sentencing, Patterson sat still, looking down and blinking frequently.

The mother, who displayed high levels of emotion when on the witness stand, showed no emotions on Monday.

She only rarely looked up and didn’t make eye contact or look in the direction of Ian Wilkinson or the families of her victims.

“I would like to encourage all those involved to keep turning up and serving others,” Ian Wilkinson said outside court.

“Our lives and (the) life of our community depend on the kindness of others.

“I’d like to encourage everybody to be kind to each other.

“Finally, I want to say thank you to the many people from across Australia and around the world who, through their prayers and messages of support, have encouraged us.

“I thank the people of the Leongatha and Korumburra communities in particular.

“Your thoughtfulness and care have been a great encouragement to us.

“That is all they wish to say for now. Please respect our privacy as we continue to grieve and heal. Thank you for listening. I hope you all have a great day. Thank you.”

“I’d like to extend gratitude to the office of the office of public prosecutions led by senior counsel Nanette Rogers,” Ian Wilkinson said.

“The court processes are a little bewildering to laypeople 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 they showed to us throughout this long process. They have also done a wonderful job.

“We’re also grateful for the staff of the various public health services that played an important role in dealing with the aftermath of the lunch.

“There are so many services and agencies and people involved that I can’t start naming names. Please each accept my sincere gratitude for the part you have played in this process.

“We’re thankful that when things go wrong, there are good people and services and systems available to help us recover.”

Sole-surviving lunch guest Ian Wilkinson has spoken outside the Supreme Court of Victoria after Erin Patterson’s sentencing.

“To Victorian police in particular, the homicide squad and the team lead by Detective Stephen Eppingstal,” he said, fighting back emotions.

“They made a professional, efficient and effective investigation as to what happened at the lunch.

“They brought to light the truth of what happened to three good people.

“We are grateful for the truth that brought this to light.

“I’m also very grateful for the time, kindness and compassion they showed us, me and my family, throughout the process.

“They have done a wonderful job. “

Convicted triple murderer Erin Patterson has been sentenced to life in prison, with a fixed non-parole period of 33 years.

This means Patterson, who is 50, could leave prison when she is in her 80s.

Justice Beale said he fixed the non-parole period due to the “harsh prison conditions” Patterson will likely face in prison for the foreseeable future.

“The harsh prison conditions you have experienced already and the likely prospect of solitary confinement for the foreseeable future are important and weighty considerations which should count for something in the sentencing exercise,” he said.

“In my view, the only scope for making them count is by the fixing of a non-parole period.

Your total effective sentence will be life imprisonment and the period during which you will be ineligible for parole will be a very substantial one.”

Justice Beale has sentenced Erin Patterson for her crimes.

“Please, stand,” Justice Beale said to Erin Patterson as she waited to learn her fate.

“For the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, I sentence you to 25 years imprisonment.

“For the murder of Heather Wilkinson, I sentence you to life imprisonment.

“For the murder of Gail Patterson, I sentence you to life imprisonment.

“For the murder of Don Patterson, I sentence you to life imprisonment.

“All sentences are to be served concurrently.

“The total effective sentence is life imprisonment and I fixate non-parole period of 33 years.”

Justice Beale says Patterson’s prison conduct has nothing to do with her isolation while locked up.

“There is nothing about your conduct while in custody which might cast doubt on the application of that general rule,” he said.

“As Ms Hosking indicated, you are in a management unit to protect you from other prisoners, not vice versa.

“Nor do you have any relevant criminal history.

“In their written submissions the prosecution conceded that your conditions of imprisonment are more burdensome than for a mainstream prisoner and that they are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.”

“As for the conditions of your imprisonment while your placement in the Gordon unit is reviewed monthly, Ms Hosking (from Corrections Victoria) was unable to say whether you would ever be moved from the Gordon unit,” Justice Beale said.

“I infer that given the unprecedented media coverage of your case and the books, documentaries and TV series about you which were all in the pipeline, you are likely to remain a notorious prisoner for many years to come and as such remain a significant risk from other prisoners.

“I turn into a number of relevant sentencing principles and rules. Section five of the sentencing act 1991 declares that the only purposes for which sentences may be imposed are just punishment, specific and general deterrence the rehabilitation, denunciation and protection of the community.

“I have had regard to all of these sentencing purposes in formulating my sentences but rehabilitation has taken a backseat because of the gravity your offending.”

Justice Beale has discussed the current prison conditions of Patterson, which is under strict isolation arrangements.

“You have no relevant criminal history. You maintain your innocence. In other words, there is no evidence of remorse,” Justice Beale said.

“I turn now to the conditions of your imprisonment. As mentioned, you have been in custody since the 2nd November 2023.

“You have a maximum security rating and ‘Major offender status’.

“Because of the nature of your crimes and your notoriety, you have been assessed as being at significant risk from other prisoners.

“You have not been assessed as posing a risk to other prisoners. You have spent approximately 16 months of your 22 months at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in a management unit called the Gordon unit and the rest of the time in a protection unit called the Murray unit. A management unit is more restrict and protection unit. -- restrictive.”