The fate of triple murderer Erin Patterson has been revealed more than two years after she served a death cap mushroom-laced lunch that killed three people and drew international attention.
The 50-year-old has today been sentenced to life behind bars with a non-parole period of 33 years after she was found guilty of the murders of three of her guests.
Patterson has been at the centre of legal proceedings for almost two years. So what happens next for her?
READ MORE: Mushroom lunch survivor Ian Wilkinson speaks after Erin Patterson sentenced to life in jail
What happens next for Erin Patterson?
Patterson is now set to spend at least the next 31 years behind bars, considering the time she has already served.
However, there is the possibility that she could appeal her sentence or her convictions.
She has 28 days from today to lodge an appeal.
Will she appeal her sentence?
Thomson Geer partner and lawyer Justin Quill told 9News he expects Patterson will almost certainly try to appeal today’s sentence or her conviction.
“I think she’s almost an unbackable favourite to appeal… She’s got money, she’s got time, she’s got nothing to lose,” he said.
“Having said that, His Honour noted Ian Wilkinson’s offer of forgiveness and said that came with the suggestion that she basically stop the lies…
”I felt like His Honour was saying to Erin Patterson, ‘Stop the lies, don’t appeal. You’ve done the crime, now do the time.'”
READ MORE: Erin Patterson’s police interview released to the public
Seeing as Patterson has maintained her innocence, an appeal seems more likely than not.
We will have to wait to see if an appeal is lodged by October 6.
What happens if Erin Patterson appeals?
To appeal her sentence or convictions, Patterson’s defence team need to provide specific grounds for the appeal, such as errors of law, an unreasonable verdict, or a miscarriage of justice.
Essentially, they need to prove that along the way something went wrong and she was hard done by in order to go ahead with an appeal.
If the appeal grounds are valid, Patterson’s case would be heard by judges in the Court of Appeal.
These judges have the ability to overturn sentences or convictions if they find grounds to.
During Patterson’s trial, Justice Christopher Beale was very meticulous with his final instructions.
“He almost made the trial appeal-proof,” 9News reporter Amber Johnston said.
“He was so, so careful.”
READ MORE: Mushroom killer Erin Patterson’s mercy plea as life behind bars looms
Justice Beale also made sure to take into account Patterson’s difficult situation in custody in sentencing, considering the fact that Patterson is in a high-security unit in continuous solitary confinement for her own protection.
“In their written submissions, the prosecution conceded that your conditions of imprisonment are more burdensome than for a mainstream prisoner and that they are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future,” Justice Beale said.
“The harsh prison conditions you have experienced already and the likely prospect of solitary confinement for the foreseeable future are important and weighty considerations which should count for something in the sentencing exercise.”
