Triple-murderer Erin Patterson has stolen 'years of love and laughter', family members of the victims poisoned by her toxic beef Wellington lunch have told a court. Patterson, 50, was last month found guilty of killing three relatives - and attempting to kill another - with a death cap mushroom-laced meal in July 2023.
In a hearing on Monday, ahead of her sentencing on 8 September, a group of relatives gave emotional statements about the impact of their loved ones' brutal deaths. The sole survivor of the lunch, local pastor Ian Wilkinson, said he felt 'half alive' without his late wife Heather - but made a powerful offer of forgiveness to the woman who killed her and almost took his life too.
In the days following the meal at Patterson's home, her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, both aged 70, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, aged 66, died in hospital. Ian Wilkinson, who became desperately ill but recovered after weeks of treatment, spoke movingly about his loss in court.
Addressing Patterson, he stated, 'I bear her no ill will. My prayer for her is that she uses her time in jail wisely to become a better person.' The prosecution is advocating for life imprisonment without parole, highlighting Patterson's calculated actions and efforts to dispose of evidence after the incident.
In a hearing on Monday, ahead of her sentencing on 8 September, a group of relatives gave emotional statements about the impact of their loved ones' brutal deaths. The sole survivor of the lunch, local pastor Ian Wilkinson, said he felt 'half alive' without his late wife Heather - but made a powerful offer of forgiveness to the woman who killed her and almost took his life too.
In the days following the meal at Patterson's home, her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, both aged 70, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, aged 66, died in hospital. Ian Wilkinson, who became desperately ill but recovered after weeks of treatment, spoke movingly about his loss in court.
Addressing Patterson, he stated, 'I bear her no ill will. My prayer for her is that she uses her time in jail wisely to become a better person.' The prosecution is advocating for life imprisonment without parole, highlighting Patterson's calculated actions and efforts to dispose of evidence after the incident.
