Australian Time Magazine's front page reported that the sole survivor of a deadly lunch containing poisonous mushrooms in Australia said he felt half-alive after his wife's death, and continued to grieve for losing two closest friends.
Ian Wilkinson read the first victim impact statement at the sentencing hearing of Erin Patterson at the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne. The 50-year-old man will be sentenced on September 8 for three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
The jury found her guilty of murdering Don Patterson and Gail Patterson, as well as Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, who had enjoyed a Wellington meat pie and death cap mushroom lunch.
Simon Patterson, the estranged husband of Patterson, was invited to a lunch at her house in July 2023 for her in-laws and the estranged husband's aunt and uncle.
She was also convicted of attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson, who spent several weeks in the hospital and survived after receiving a liver transplant.
The prosecution advocated for a life sentence without parole, while the defense hoped she would be eligible for release after serving 30 years.
"The crime here is terrible," Judge Christopher Beale told the court.
Pastor Wilkinson described his wife as a woman who took her faith seriously, full of love, kindness, and self-control.
"Without her, I feel only half-alive," Wilkinson said before crying.
"This is one of the painful shortcomings of our society, so much attention is focused on those who do evil, and little on those who do good," he added.
He described Simon Patterson, the estranged husband of Erin Patterson, and his parents Gail Patterson and Don Patterson as the people closest to him after his wife and family.
"Without them, my life was very poor," Wilkinson said.
"I am pained by Erin Patterson's cruel and calculated indifference to my life and the lives of those I love. What stupidity is it to think that murder can solve your problems, especially when it is those who have only done good to her?"
Wilkinson forgave Patterson for the harm she caused him.
"It was wise of me to say 'the harm done to me'. I have no power or responsibility to forgive the harm done to others," Wilkinson said.
"What I pray for her is that she uses the time in prison wisely to become a better person," he added.
Erin Patterson attended the Melbourne court on Monday, wearing a paisley shirt and a light brown jacket. She seemed emotionally moved when Ian Wilkinson spoke.
On Monday, seven relatives of the victims either read impact statements to the court or had them read on their behalf.
Erin Patterson could face a life sentence for each murder and 25 years in prison for the attempted murder.
She will have a month to appeal her sentence and convictions after the judgment.
The defense stated that Erin Patterson claimed she was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, and her husband believed she had anxiety, high-functioning autism, and possibly ADHD.
The judge said the evidence of Asperger's syndrome "lacked much credibility."
Prosecutor Jane Warren dismissed the claims about mental health conditions, calling them hearsay evidence.
She said Beale should not show mercy to Erin Patterson. She compared this case to the 2017 case where Michael Cardamone was sentenced to life in prison without parole in Victoria for burning a neighbor alive.
Warren said: "This is such a cruel and terrible crime that in our statement, the perpetrator does not deserve compassion from this court."
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841469700159500/
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