Melbourne, Australia (AP) – The sole survivor of a deadly lunch said on Monday that after his wife died, he continued to grieve over the loss of two of his closest friends.
Ian Wilkinson read the first victim impact statement at a sentencing hearing for the Victoria Supreme Court Erin Patterson.
The 50-year-old will be sentenced on September 8 for murder and one attempted murder. The prosecution advocates life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, while defense attorneys hope she will be eligible for release after 30 years of service.
“The crime here is terrible,” Judge Christopher Beale told the court.
The jury sentenced Patterson in July to murder Wilkinson’s wife Heather Wilkinson, her sister Gail Patterson and her husband Don Patterson to lunch at beef Wellington pastry and forage for Death Cap Mushrooms in July 2023.
Erin Patterson was also convicted of the murder of Ian Wilkinson, who spent weeks in the hospital and survived a liver transplant.
Poisoning survivor describes grief
Baptist pastor Wilkinson described his wife as a faith that takes her seriously, full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, tenderness, loyalty and self-control.
Wilkinson said before crying, “I am half alive without her.”
He added: “This is one of the frustrating shortcomings of our society, and so much attention is paid to those who do evil, to those who do well.”
He describes Gail and Don Patterson, parents of Erin Patterson’s estranged husband Simon Patterson, as closest to his wife and family.
“Without them, my life would be extremely poor.”
“I was frustrated, Erin was filled with ruthless behavior about my life and the lives of the people I loved. He added.
Wilkinson forgives Patterson for the damage she has caused to him.
“I said ‘The harm caused to me'” solicited. I have no authority or responsibility to forgive the harm caused to others,” Wilkinson said.
He added: “My prayer for her is that she will be wise to spend a better person in prison.”
Erin Patterson personally attended the Melbourne court on Monday, wearing a Paisley top and a light brown coat. Ian Wilkinson seemed emotionally moved when she spoke.
Seven relatives of the victims either read the impact statement to the court on Monday or read on their behalf.
Patterson may face decades in prison
Erin Patterson faces potential life sentences for every murder case, with 25 years in attempted murder.
She will file a lawsuit and conviction one month after the sentencing.
The defense believes Erin Patterson claims she was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and her husband believes she suffers from anxiety, high-functioning autism and possible ADHD.
Asperger “didn’t have much credibility” evidence, the judge said.
Prosecutor Jane Warren dismissed his claim for mental health as anecdotal evidence.
She said Bill should show Erin Patterson no mercy. She compared the case to one in 2017, when Michael Cardamone was sentenced to life imprisonment in Victoria without parole for his neighbor who burned alive.
“It is such a cruel and terrible crime that in our submissions, the criminals do not deserve the mercy of the court,” Warren said.
