Ian Wilkinson, the sole survivor of the four people Erin Patterson poisoned with death cap mushrooms in a beef Wellington lunch, has spoken after she was sentenced in the Victorian Supreme Court today.
Patterson, 50, was sentenced to life in jail with a non-parole period of 33 years for the murders of her one-time in-laws Gail and Don Patterson, and Wilkinson’s wife Heather, at Leongatha in 2023.
She was also convicted of the attempted murder of Wilkinson.
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Wilkinson, who gave evidence at Patterson’s trial and made a victim impact statement, offered a public thank-you to police outside court.
“They brought to light the truth of what happened with the death of three good people,” he said.
“We’re grateful for their skills that brought this truth to light, and I’m also very grateful for the kindness and compassion they showed us, me and my family throughout the long process that has brought us to this day.”
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In his sentencing remarks, Justice Christopher Beale noted that Wilkinson suffered ongoing health problems related to the poisoned lunch, including reduced kidney function.
Wilkinson also thanked prosecutors and health staff who had been involved in the aftermath of the lunch.
“There are so many services and agencies and people involved that I can’t start naming names, but please, each one, accept my sincere gratitude for the part that you have played in this process,” he said.
“We’re thankful that when things go wrong, there are good people and services and systems available to help us recover.”
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He also thanked people around Australia and the world, particularly in the communities of Leongatha and Korumburra, who had offered their support, care, and prayers.
“I’d like to encourage everybody to be kind to each other,” he said.
Wilkinson asked for his family’s privacy to be respected as they continued to “grieve and heal”.
He did not mention Patterson in his post-sentencing remarks, but during a pre-sentencing hearing, he said he offered her his personal forgiveness for what she had done to him.
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