An Australian court will begin hearing two appeals on Wednesday in the high-profile triple-murder case involving Erin Patterson. Patterson was convicted of murdering her estranged husband's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt, Heather Wilkinson, and the attempted murder of Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson, in July 2023.
Patterson, 51, is appealing her convictions on seven grounds. These include a "fundamental irregularity" concerning the jury being sequestered in the same hotel as police and media, and claims that her cross-examination during the trial was "unfair and oppressive."
Separately, the state's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is appealing against Patterson's sentence of life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 33 years. The DPP argues that the sentence is "manifestly inadequate" and that the trial judge erred in considering her likely solitary confinement when allowing for the possibility of parole.
If Patterson's appeal is successful, her convictions could be quashed, potentially leading to a retrial or acquittal. If the DPP's appeal is successful, Patterson's non-parole period could be extended, or she could be sentenced to life without parole.