Australian mushroom killer Erin Patterson launched an appeal Wednesday against her convictions for murdering three people in a case that drew worldwide attention.
The 51-year-old was found guilty last year of murdering her husband's parents and an elderly aunt in 2023 after serving them a beef Wellington containing lethal death cap mushrooms.
Patterson was also convicted of attempting to murder her husband's uncle, a local pastor who survived after spending weeks in hospital.
She was sentenced to life imprisonment, with parole eligibility after 33 years.
Appeals before Melbourne court
Over two days, three judges at the Court of Appeal in Melbourne will hear two appeals: Patterson's bid to overturn her convictions and a prosecution appeal seeking a longer sentence.
Patterson has asked to follow the proceedings by live video link from the maximum-security Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Melbourne.
Her lawyers argue that she suffered several "substantial miscarriage[s] of justice" because the trial judge made errors over what evidence could be presented.
They said evidence relating to Facebook messages, cell towers and posts about death cap mushroom sightings was either irrelevant or unfairly prejudicial to Patterson.
Her lawyer also argued that evidence concerning mushroom images found on a memory card at Patterson's home was wrongly excluded.
The appeal submission further alleged a "fundamental irregularity" occurred while the jury was sequestered that "fatally undermined the integrity of the verdicts," without providing further details.
Patterson's solicitor also accused prosecutors of conducting an "unfair and oppressive" cross-examination during the trial.
Before considering the substance of the appeal, the judges must determine whether Patterson has grounds to challenge her convictions.
Prosecution seeks longer sentence
Prosecutors have separately appealed Patterson's sentence, arguing that the 33-year non-parole period was "manifestly inadequate."
They said the sentencing judge erred in finding there was a substantial chance Patterson would spend years in solitary confinement, arguing that this consideration "infected" his decision.
A 12-person jury found Patterson guilty in July last year of murdering her husband Simon's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt, Heather Wilkinson, at her home in the Victorian farming village of Leongatha.
She was also found guilty of attempting to murder Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson, a pastor who became gravely ill but eventually recovered.
