A Victorian Supreme Court judge on Monday sentenced Erin Patterson to life in prison for the deliberate poisoning of three people with death‑cap mushrooms, setting a non‑parole period of 33 years that will make her eligible to apply for parole at about age 83.

Justice Christopher Beale told Patterson that he accepted prosecutors’ characterisation of the offending as planned and callous and that her failure to show remorse had compounded the harm to victims and their families. "Your failure to show any remorse pours salt into your victims' wounds," he said.

Patterson, 50, was convicted after a jury found she served beef Wellingtons laced with dried Amanita phalloides — commonly known as death‑cap mushrooms — at a family lunch at her Leongatha home on July 29, 2023. Don and Gail Patterson and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, died after the meal. Pastor Ian Wilkinson survived and Patterson was also convicted of his attempted murder.

Justice Beale said he was satisfied Patterson had meticulously prepared the meal, including purchasing a dehydrator to dry the mushrooms and serving food on plates different from her own. He accepted that she had lured guests to the lunch with a false story that she had cancer and had then engaged in an active cover‑up, misleading health officials and police about the source of the contamination.

"You did so with the intention of killing them all," Justice Beale said. "You showed no pity for your victims." He described the offending as an "enormous breach of trust," saying the conduct not only ended three lives but also inflicted severe emotional harm on Patterson’s children.

Patterson appeared emotionless as the sentence was read. Wedged between two prison officers in the dock, she sat with her eyes closed for parts of the 45‑minute hearing and showed no visible tears. Court observers said she tapped reporters' desks as she left the courtroom.

The sentence drew significant public and media attention. Members of the public queued along Williams Street for limited public seating inside the Supreme Court and more than 1,300 people tuned into a live stream of the hearing after the court made a rare concession to allow television cameras to relay proceedings (Patterson was not filmed).

Crown prosecutors Dr Nanette Rogers and Jane Warren had urged that Patterson be denied a non‑parole period, arguing the crimes were so brutal that mercy should not be applied. They drew comparisons to past cases in which judges declined to fix a non‑parole period for offenders whose crimes were described as particularly cruel.

Patterson’s defence team did not contest that a life sentence was appropriate. At a pre‑sentence hearing last month, lead counsel Colin Mandy SC told the court the defence accepted a head sentence of life imprisonment but sought the fixing of a non‑parole period. Defence lawyers argued that Patterson’s prolonged confinement in highly restrictive conditions at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre’s Gordon Unit — where inmates are often locked down for up to 23 hours a day — should be taken into account when determining how long she should serve before being eligible for parole.

Justice Beale said he had found it difficult to determine a suitable non‑parole period and acknowledged the severe custodial conditions Patterson had already endured. The judge noted he could not base sentencing on speculative future conditions but accepted Patterson had spent 15 months in isolation and would likely spend many more years in restrictive management, a point raised by defence counsel.

Patterson has 28 days to lodge an appeal against the sentence. The court heard she once had personal wealth that is believed to be now exhausted; if she lacks private funds for an appeal, she may have to seek taxpayer‑funded legal assistance.

The kitchen preparation and the choice of death‑cap mushrooms drew particular attention during the trial. Death‑cap poisoning can cause prolonged and agonising illness and often proves fatal without timely specialised treatment. Justice Beale said it was "implausible" that Patterson did not understand how the mushrooms would affect her guests.

Relatives of the victims and members of the local community attended the sentencing. Pastor Ian Wilkinson and other family members were present outside the court, where they spoke briefly to attending media before the hearing.

Patterson pleaded not guilty at trial and has maintained her innocence throughout the proceedings. Her legal team includes Colin Mandy SC, Sophie Stafford and Ophelia Hollway. Crown prosecutors in the case were Dr Nanette Rogers and Jane Warren.

The sentencing closes a high‑profile prosecution that drew widespread attention across Australia and internationally. The court’s decision to allow a live feed of the sentence was an uncommon step for criminal matters in Victoria and reflected the intense public interest in the case.