Prosecutors in Australia have filed an appeal against the sentence of mushroom murderer Erin Patterson, arguing that it is 'manifestly inadequate'. Last month, Patterson, 51, was sentenced to life imprisonment with no chance of release for at least 33 years for murdering three relatives and attempting to kill another by serving them a toxic mushroom meal.

The Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) confirmed on Monday that an appeal has been lodged based on the assertion that Patterson's sentence does not reflect the severity of her crimes. This record sentence is among the longest ever imposed on a female offender in Australia, meaning Patterson will be in her 80s before she can apply for parole.

In court, Patterson's lawyer indicated that she intends to appeal her conviction, although that appeal has not yet been formally submitted. The appeal process is not automatic; her legal team must convince the appeal court in Victoria of legal errors that warrant a review.

The case has garnered intense public scrutiny and media attention, leading to a substantial influx of journalists and documentary creators to the small courthouse in Morwell.

Patterson was convicted for the deaths of her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both aged 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, after she served them individual portions of beef Wellington containing death cap mushrooms in 2023. Meanwhile, Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, survived the incident but has faced severe health complications related to the poisoning.

During her sentencing, Judge Christopher Beale acknowledged the severity of Patterson's actions but explained that considerations like her time in solitary confinement shaped the decision to allow parole. The judge noted that Patterson had spent 15 months in isolation at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre and would remain at risk from other prisoners due to her notoriety.

The ongoing legal developments in this case are indicative of broader public interest and discussions around justice and sentencing in extreme criminal cases in Australia.