More details have been provided about Erin Patterson’s life behind bars and why she has been isolated from other inmates.
On August 25, the convicted killer went to Victoria’s Supreme Court to hear from the loved ones of the victims.
A month prior on July 7, she was found guilty of the murder of Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66, who attended the lunch at her home in regional Victoria on July 29, 2023.
What has life in prison been like for Erin Patterson?
Patterson has been housed in protective isolation in the Dame Phyllis Frost prison, spending between 22 and 24 hours per day alone in her cell.
The court was told that this was because of her notoriety, and she was at risk of being harmed by other prisoners.
The court was also told that she was urged to speak through a mesh fence, which connects her courtyard to another for an adjacent cell.
News.com.au was told that convicted terrorist Momena Shoma is in that cell.
She was sentenced to 42 years behind bars over the attack on her father, Roger Singaravelu, in his home in 2018.
The outlet also previously reported that she tried to kill a Canadian inmate in 2020.
The court was also told that despite being in isolation, Patterson had access to wool, a hair straightener, books, a television and a computer.
Before she arrived at the court, one of her former inmates spoke with News.com.au about the convicted killer’s behaviour behind bars.
The former inmate, who was released from the prison in March this year, also spoke about Patterson’s life in prison.
“She spent her time by herself arguing with another inmate about who was getting more attention,” she said.
“She crocheted all day, all night. Any interaction with people, she tried to make them feel like s***.
“Her cell was a pig sty. She was very serious, never smiled, only made fun of people, was narcissistic and hardly slept.”
She also said Patterson tried to “manipulate” anyone she had an interaction with.
“When she first moved to the Murray Unit (protection), girls would say hello to her and she would just ignore them,” she said. “She was just a real rude b****.”
Along with that, the former inmate also alleged that Patterson felt entitled to “whatever” she wanted, because “she’s so high profile”.
The former inmate also claimed that Patterson never thought she would be convicted, and resented her ex-husband.
What happened when Erin Patterson returned to court?
Patterson went to Victoria’s Supreme Court on August 25 to face the loved ones of the victims.
Seven impact statements were read in the lead-up to her sentencing, with 28 others tendered to the court for Justice Christopher to consider.
What did people say in their victim impact statements?
One of them was from Ian Wilkinson, who is the sole survivor of the lunch, and said he forgave Patterson.
“I make an offer of forgiveness to Erin,” he told the court.
“In regard to the murders of Heather, Gail, and Don, I am compelled to seek justice.”
He then went on to say he wished her no ill will.
“I am distressed that Erin has acted with callous and calculated disregard for my life and the life of those I loved,” he continued.
“What foolishness possesses someone to think that murder could be the solution to their problems, particularly people who only have good intentions towards her?”
“Now I am no longer Erin Patterson’s victim, and she has become the victim of my kindness.”
He also told the court that he had not fully recovered from the death cap mushroom poisoning.
His daughter, Ruth Dubois, also read a victim impact statement and could not comprehend Patterson’s actions.
Patterson’s estranged husband, Simon Patterson, had his statement read by his cousin, Naomi Gleadow.
In his statement, he said he missed his parents “more than words can express”.
The statement also said that his children were “robbed of … the kind of relationship with their mother that every child yearns for”, and “almost everyone knows their mother murdered their grandparents”.
He also said that both children knew they were loved and supported, and addressed the impact of the media’s coverage.
Statements from Heather and Gail’s sister Lynette Young, Don’s mother Martha Patterson, Don’s younger brother, Colin Patterson, and Don’s nephew Tim Patterson were also read.
When will Erin Patterson be sentenced?
Patterson will face a plea hearing this week, during which the prosecution and defence will present their arguments.
On Monday, the prosecution and defence both agreed that she should receive a life sentence for her crimes.
Her defence lawyer, Colin Mandy SC, said she should receive a non-parole period.
After the plea hearing, Justice Beale will hand down his sentence in a sentencing hearing on September 8.
