An Australian woman who poisoned three family members with death cap mushrooms has returned to court as she attempts to have her convictions overturned.
Erin Patterson, 51, who is currently serving a life sentence, is set to appear before the Victorian Court of Appeal in Melbourne this week.
She was convicted last year of murdering Don and Gail Patterson, both aged 70, who were her estranged husband's parents, along with Gail's 66-year-old sister Heather Wilkinson.
She was additionally found guilty of the attempted murder of Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson, who became critically ill but survived.
The fatal meal, a beef Wellington laced with deadly mushrooms, was served at Patterson's Leongatha home in Victoria's Gippsland region on July 16, 2023. A two-day hearing commences on Wednesday.
In court filings submitted last year, Patterson alleged she suffered a "miscarriage of justice" during the 11-week trial and outlined seven grounds on which she seeks leave to appeal.
Among her central complaints is the prosecution's five-day cross-examination was "unfair and oppressive" and its closing address similarly resulted in a substantial miscarriage of justice.
Her legal team has also contended that prosecutors shifted their position on motive, raising it during closing arguments after previously telling the court that no known motive existed.
Patterson has further disputed evidence relating to mobile phone cell tower data and reported sightings of death cap mushrooms near the Victorian towns of Loch and Outtrim.
Her final ground centres on a "fundamental irregularity" during jury deliberations, as the 12 jurors were unknowingly housed in the same hotel as the lead detective and two members of the prosecution team.
The hearing also involves a cross-appeal from prosecutors, who are seeking a harsher punishment.
Patterson was handed a life term in September 2025 with a minimum of 33 years before she can apply for parole, alongside a concurrent 25-year sentence for the attempted murder of Mr Wilkinson.
That non-parole period was the longest ever given to a woman convicted of murder in the state of Victoria.
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Under the current sentence, she would be 82 before becoming eligible for release in 2056.
Prosecutors had originally pushed for imprisonment without any prospect of parole.
Should their challenge succeed, Patterson could face a whole-life term or an extended minimum term of more than 33 years.
Her defence had sought parole eligibility after 30 years.
The case captivated audiences across Australia, spawning numerous podcasts, books and television programmes and leaving the tight-knit rural community of Korumburra, where the victims had lived, devastated.
Patterson's estranged husband, Simon, described the media scrutiny surrounding the case as traumatic for the family during the sentencing hearing.
Patterson has consistently maintained the inclusion of the toxic mushrooms was accidental and that she panicked and tried to cover up what had occurred.
She is expected to appear via video link from prison rather than attending in person.
The application represents a preliminary stage: three judges must first be persuaded that sufficient grounds exist before a full appeal can proceed.
If unsuccessful, Patterson retains the option of petitioning Australia's High Court.
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