10.34am
The simple paisley top she is wearing today is one she had on rotation during the trial, too.
She carried a bundle of manila folders into court and was seen chatting with her legal team.
Seated closest to her is Ali Rose Prior, Patterson’s power of attorney and her biggest supporter during the trial, attending the Morwell courthouse nearly every day.
The pre-sentence hearing has just started.
“Call the matter please,” Justice Christopher Beale said.
Patterson stood to confirm her date of birth, age, her occupation as an administrative clerk, and her last address.
The statements are an opportunity for victims – which in this case could include lunch survivor Ian Wilkinson, Erin’s estranged husband Simon and any other family or friends of the Wilkinsons and Pattersons – to tell a judge what impact the crime has had on them.
The statements can be read out loud or handed up for the judge to read.
The Supreme Court has indicated that if any of Erin Patterson’s victims elect to have their statements handed to the judge, they will be kept private and the details not released.
Legislation provides limitations on what can be included in a victim impact statement
ople are allowed to include the impact of the offence on them and any injury, loss or damage suffered by them as a direct result of the crime.
They can include medical documents, photographs and poems but if they stray outside the rules, a judge can rule that parts of them will not be taken into account.
The purpose of an impact statement is to allow victims to tell the court the emotional toll an offence has had on them.
Victims of Crime Commissioner Elizabeth Langdon says they are an important mechanism for victims to have a voice in the justice process and feel like rightful participants in the justice process.
According to the OPP, a victim is a person who suffers any of the following things as a result of a crime: injury, loss or damage, grief, distress, trauma, or other significant adverse effects. This means that a victim can be a person directly affected by the crime, family, friends or even witnesses.
10.44am
Before his wife was murdered, Ian and Heather Wilkinson were married for 44 years.
“I want to begin with a few words about my beautiful wife Heather,” Ian Wilkinson told the court. “She was a compassionate, intelligent, brave, witty, simply a delightful person who loved sharing life with others.“
She was a generous wife and mother, Wilkinson told the court. And she was funny, too.
“Heather had a great sense of humour, and it was a joy to be in her company.“
She had skills that made up for his own shortcomings, Wilkinson told the court.
They were in love, even after all those many years, they remained in love.
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The pre-sentence hearing begins
By
Erin Patterson’s hair has grown long; today, she has it pulled back into a ponytail. She is wearing the same black pants and black sandals she wore during the murder trial in Morwell.The simple paisley top she is wearing today is one she had on rotation during the trial, too.
She carried a bundle of manila folders into court and was seen chatting with her legal team.
Seated closest to her is Ali Rose Prior, Patterson’s power of attorney and her biggest supporter during the trial, attending the Morwell courthouse nearly every day.
The pre-sentence hearing has just started.
“Call the matter please,” Justice Christopher Beale said.
Patterson stood to confirm her date of birth, age, her occupation as an administrative clerk, and her last address.
What is a victim impact statement?
By
There will be seven victim impact statements read to the court during Erin Patterson’s pre-sentencing hearing. The first one from lunch survivor Ian Wilkinson who will read it out himself.The statements are an opportunity for victims – which in this case could include lunch survivor Ian Wilkinson, Erin’s estranged husband Simon and any other family or friends of the Wilkinsons and Pattersons – to tell a judge what impact the crime has had on them.
The statements can be read out loud or handed up for the judge to read.
The Supreme Court has indicated that if any of Erin Patterson’s victims elect to have their statements handed to the judge, they will be kept private and the details not released.
Legislation provides limitations on what can be included in a victim impact statement
ople are allowed to include the impact of the offence on them and any injury, loss or damage suffered by them as a direct result of the crime.
They can include medical documents, photographs and poems but if they stray outside the rules, a judge can rule that parts of them will not be taken into account.
The purpose of an impact statement is to allow victims to tell the court the emotional toll an offence has had on them.
Victims of Crime Commissioner Elizabeth Langdon says they are an important mechanism for victims to have a voice in the justice process and feel like rightful participants in the justice process.
According to the OPP, a victim is a person who suffers any of the following things as a result of a crime: injury, loss or damage, grief, distress, trauma, or other significant adverse effects. This means that a victim can be a person directly affected by the crime, family, friends or even witnesses.
10.44am
Married for 44 years: Ian Wilkinson mourns the great love of his life
By
Courtroom four is hearing a moving victim impact statement read aloud from an emotional Ian Wilkinson, who is fighting back tears.Before his wife was murdered, Ian and Heather Wilkinson were married for 44 years.
“I want to begin with a few words about my beautiful wife Heather,” Ian Wilkinson told the court. “She was a compassionate, intelligent, brave, witty, simply a delightful person who loved sharing life with others.“
She was a generous wife and mother, Wilkinson told the court. And she was funny, too.
“Heather had a great sense of humour, and it was a joy to be in her company.“
She had skills that made up for his own shortcomings, Wilkinson told the court.
They were in love, even after all those many years, they remained in love.
The ‘elaborate’ cover-up after the beef Wellington lunch and the single word that might have changed everything
September 8 is the date Erin Patterson will learn her fate – whether that be life in prison without the possibility of parole, as the prosecution has requested, or life with the possibility of the poisoner one day walking outside of jail once again.
