GUILTY Australia - 3 dead after eating wild mushrooms, Leongatha, Victoria, Aug 2023 *Arrest* #20

[whitelilac]

The consideration of the harsh conditions, isolation, her notoriety, etc. in granting the possibility of freedom after 33 years infuriates me.
It's heinous the betrayal and the suffering she imposed on her victims, who cared for her, embraced her into their lives and families.

 

[Marg944]

“With no reaction or emotion, she was led out of courtroom four at Victoria’s Supreme Court, tapping twice on the media bench as she walked past.”

Erin Patterson sentencing LIVE updates: Eyes wide shut as a mushroom cook is sentenced to life in prison; non-parole period of 33 years

Erin Patterson has received a total sentence of life in prison. She must serve 33 years before being eligible for parole. Follow our live updates.

www.theage.com.au

Wow Erin! Just Wow!

 

[Detechtive]

The consideration of the harsh conditions, isolation, her notoriety, etc. in granting the possibility of freedom after 33 years infuriates me.
It's heinous the betrayal and the suffering she imposed on her victims, who cared for her, embraced her into their lives and families.

Likewise, and it seems illogical that because she’s so notorious for committing such a heinous crime, that she is now afforded leniency due to the conditions as a result of it.

 

[whitelilac]

If she does appeal, she'd have no chance with regards to the trial as the evidence is overwhelming, but may appeal the sentence. If so, she'd have to consider the possibility the non parole period could be taken away. I do not remember the case, but such happened here in the US where the appeal resulted in a stiffer sentence.
That would be a fine outcome for Erin's arrogance.

 

[LinasK]

If she does appeal, she'd have no chance with regards to the trial as the evidence is overwhelming, but may appeal the sentence. If so, she'd have to consider the possibility the non parole period could be taken away. I do not remember the case, but such happened here in the US where the appeal resulted in a stiffer sentence.
That would be a fine outcome for Erin's arrogance.

I love that for her! Wish the judge had ordered her to keep her eyes open and pay attention.

 

[Eloise]

can't imagine she'll live to 82 tbh
its effectively a life sentence for someone of her age and health

 

[MrJ]

As for Patterson herself, she remained silent during the proceedings.

"For most of it she cut a pretty glum figure in the court dock," Kristian said.

"But as Justice Beale started going through his sentence and just talking about how blatant this crime was, Patterson shut her eyes and just appeared to be trying to sort of block it out."

But there were no tears or emotion shown from the convicted killer.

Live: Patterson sentenced to life with 33 years non-parole over fatal mushroom lunch

Erin Patterson is sentenced to life in prison with 33 years non-parole, for murdering three in-laws — and attempting to murder a fourth — by lacing their beef Wellingtons with poisonous death cap mushrooms in 2023. Follow live.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Cedars]

Likewise, and it seems illogical that because she’s so notorious for committing such a heinous crime, that she is now afforded leniency due to the conditions as a result of it.

What are typical sentences in Australia?

The US has their own system, but, for example, in Canada, we're much more aligned with British sentencing standards. For eg in Canada, a life sentence without any chance of parole is a violation of the constitution.

JMO

 

[Cedars]

can't imagine she'll live to 82 tbh
its effectively a life sentence for someone of her age and health

It is actually a life sentence, as the judge stated.

Parole doesn't mean 'walk out free'. IF she gets it (not guaranteed, and it requires long years of confession and remorse), she'd be under scrutiny by a parole officer, and any violation of parole conditions will land her back in prison.

IMO, demanding consecutive life sentences is just melodrama, like a judge sentencing her "to roast in Hell for all eternity". I'm pretty sure that's not a sentence the prison system can arrange.

JMO

 

[Eloise]

What are typical sentences in Australia?

The US has their own system, but, for example, in Canada, we're much more aligned with British sentencing standards. For eg in Canada, a life sentence without any chance of parole is a violation of the constitution.

JMO

You can give life without parole in the absolute, worst crimes. But its exceedingly rare and we have what seems like a more lenient appeals process than the UK does. Feels like the UK legal system is built on the idea that they get it right first time (even when they don't), whereas our appeals system is more forgiving than that.

It is actually a life sentence, as the judge stated.

Parole doesn't mean 'walk out free'. IF she gets it (not guaranteed, and it requires long years of confession and remorse), she'd be under scrutiny by a parole officer, and any violation of parole conditions will land her back in prision.

IMO, demanding consecutive life sentences is just melodrama, like a judge sentencing her "to roast in Hell for all eternity". I'm pretty sure that's not a sentence the prison system can arrange.

JMO

I am aware. I was being a little facetious about Erin's personal circumstances.

I personally always said I thought she'd get a concurrent life sentence, with parole.
We don't do consecutive life sentences in Australia - its possible, but exceedingly rare - and we nearly always give a parole period. For the most part, it seems to work, because we have a relatively low crime rate compared to some countries with harsher sentencing.

 

[drsleuth]

 

[ch_13]

If I understood the judge correctly, Heather and Gail's parents both lived to 100.

It occurs to me that considering their family history, both women could have lived close to that age. Approximately another 33 years. The same amount of time as Erin's sentence.

 

[Charlot123]

What are typical sentences in Australia?

The US has their own system, but, for example, in Canada, we're much more aligned with British sentencing standards. For eg in Canada, a life sentence without any chance of parole is a violation of the constitution.

JMO

I would be all for improving the prison conditions. It is a separate issue but an important one.

In terms of LWP, what about people like our Green River Killer? When during COVID, many inmates were let out, everyone was against releasing him or changing the conditions of his stay only because he represented a huge danger to the public, to all of us.

 

[Cliff Hardy]

can't imagine she'll live to 82 tbh
its effectively a life sentence for someone of her age and health

No chance. Once your quality of life has been reduced to what hers is and will continue to be virtually indefinitely, you lose the will to live. I think she'll be lucky to see out half of those 33 years.

 

[Detechtive]

It is actually a life sentence, as the judge stated.

Parole doesn't mean 'walk out free'. IF she gets it (not guaranteed, and it requires long years of confession and remorse), she'd be under scrutiny by a parole officer, and any violation of parole conditions will land her back in prison.

IMO, demanding consecutive life sentences is just melodrama, like a judge sentencing her "to roast in Hell for all eternity". I'm pretty sure that's not a sentence the prison system can arrange.

JMO

Afaik it doesn’t require confession or remorse - just good behaviour in prison. IMO

 

[Detechtive]

Addressing the Asian Grocer lie. Fantastic.

That’s the thing - she didn’t just murder 3 and nearly a 4th, and 5th (Simon) she threw the entire Asian grocers community and mushroom growers under the bus, also. They lost millions. She’s just so disgusting. There are victims everywhere here.

 

[Kemug]

If she did get parole in her '80s, I'm pretty sure a condition of release would be that she never serve food or beverages to others.

Not sure if that could be properly "policed". She might have to make do with pets.

 

[iamshadow21]

If I understood the judge correctly, Heather and Gail's parents both lived to 100.

It occurs to me that considering their family history, both women could have lived close to that age. Approximately another 33 years. The same amount of time as Erin's sentence.

That was exactly what I thought. I think three of the victims had at least one parent living who gave an impact statement. (Gail and Heather and Don?)

MOO

 

[HoneyBunOne]

Concurrent sentences just break it down into 11 years for a life. A life she planned on taking well in advance, chose and prepared her poison well in advance, made a plan in advance as to the location and meal, actually had the balls to carry it out, then did nothing to stop their slow & horrific deaths, with no real reason at all.

If someone took one person's life in a fit of rage, or planned a deadly attack on 400, a concurrent sentence still equals X amount of time in jail. It just waters down the punishment for each persons life.

Regardless, she's unlikely to get out of jail, and we can only hope she doesn't. Her kind of petty, coupled with her kind of crime, means she can easily reoffend, regardless of how old or frail she may be. A shot of eye drops in someone's coffee will likely get similar results, if she's hell bent on doing it because Betty next door dared to prune the roses that fell on her side of the fence.

 

[Scuffy35]

She might have to make do with pets.

I don't think she could be trusted not to be cruel to pets. She should never be allowed to be in any trust position if or when she gets paroled.