By Kristian Silva, ABC News
Erin Patterson. Photo: AFP / Martin Keep
Mushroom killer Erin Patterson will appeal a jury verdict that found her guilty of three murders and attempted murder.
Patterson's barrister Richard Edney made the announcement during an administrative hearing in Victoria's Supreme Court on Thursday morning.
"There will be an appeal against conviction," Edney said.
The grounds for the appeal were not outlined, and documents have not been formally lodged.
Patterson was sentenced to life in prison with a 33-year non-parole-period over the deaths of relatives Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, who she poisoned with toxic mushrooms in a beef Wellington at her home in regional Victoria in 2023.
She was also found guilty of attempting to murder Wilkinson's husband Ian, who also ate the poisonous meal but recovered after a stint in hospital.
Patterson, 51, attended Thursday's hearing via video link and has a new-look legal team.
They include Edney, as well as high-profile barrister Julian McMahon SC, whose legal chambers confirmed his involvement.
McMahon rose to prominence defending Australians on death row, including members of the Bali 9 drug smuggling crew.
She continues to be represented by criminal defence law firm Doogue and George.
Patterson's lawyers will be required to lodge some appeal paperwork before Tuesday, but will be granted a further 28 days to finalise the leave application.
Meanwhile, Victoria's Office of Public Prosecutions is yet to announce whether it will lodge its own appeal against Justice Beale's sentence, after arguing Patterson's crimes were so severe that she should never have a chance of being freed on parole.
The Leongatha woman invited the group over for lunch on 29 July, 2023, serving them individual portions of the tainted beef Wellington.
Within 24 hours, all four were in hospital suffering from gastro-like symptoms, before their conditions worsened.
Erin Patterson in court. Photo: PAUL TYQUIN
Patterson, who also claimed to have fallen ill, pleaded not guilty and denied knowing poisonous death cap mushrooms were in the meal.
A jury of 12 found her guilty earlier this year, after sitting through a criminal trial that attracted global headlines.
It will now be up to Victoria's Court of Appeal to decide whether to grant Patterson and her lawyers a hearing to mount a legal challenge.
If the hearing goes ahead and the appeal succeeds, the court could order a retrial.
Patterson's legal team will have to prove that she suffered a miscarriage of justice, or provide compelling fresh evidence in her favour.
The mother-of-two has been behind bars since her arrest in November 2023, and is currently in a high security wing of a women's prison due to fears for her safety.
As things stand, the earliest Patterson could walk free is 2056.
- ABC News
