An automobile owned by Erin Patterson, a convicted criminal from Australia, was put up for sale on Facebook but was quickly removed. Patterson was recently sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of three family members and an attempted murder using a poisoned beef Wellington.
Patterson’s red 2023 MG SUV was listed on Melbourne’s Facebook Marketplace for AUD18,500 (£9,037) this week. The ad highlighted that the vehicle was in “excellent condition” with 22,000km mileage, and was priced for a quick sale.
The advertisement was posted by Ali Prior, who holds power of attorney for Patterson. The listing described the car as being in great shape, efficient, and still appearing new.
Prior clarified that she had the authority to sell the car on Patterson’s behalf if instructed to do so. She emphasized that the sale was independent of the criminal conviction and stated that it was a private transaction. However, the ad has since been taken down.
During the trial, the car played a significant role, with CCTV footage showing Patterson driving the MG to dispose of the food dehydrator used in processing the death cap mushrooms at Koonwarra Transfer Station shortly after the poisoning incident.
On September 8, Patterson received a life sentence with a minimum non-parole period of 33 years. A judge from the Supreme Court categorized Patterson’s offenses as the most severe.
Patterson murdered her parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, along with Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, by serving them a poisoned beef Wellington in 2023. Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband, survived the incident but has experienced health complications due to the poisoning.
Despite being a mother of two, Patterson maintains her innocence, claiming that the death cap mushrooms were accidentally added to the dish. She is facing three consecutive life sentences for the murders and an additional 25 years for the attempted murder.
During sentencing, Justice Christopher Beale admonished Patterson, stating that her actions not only resulted in the premature deaths of three individuals and long-term health issues for Ian Wilkinson but also caused immense pain to both the Patterson and Wilkinson families, including her own children.
Beale characterized Patterson’s crimes as a significant breach of trust, highlighting that her victims were all relatives by marriage who had shown kindness to her and her children over the years. He underscored the impact of Patterson’s actions on the affected families.
In his victim impact statement, Ian Wilkinson expressed a willingness to forgive Patterson but emphasized the need for justice for the victims. He condemned Patterson’s calculated disregard for human life and questioned the rationale behind resorting to murder as a solution to personal issues.
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