Mushroom killer Erin Patterson has just days left to appeal her conviction or her sentence.
Patterson was found guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder and was sentenced on September 8 to life in prison with a non-parole period of 33 years.
The 50-year-old’s defence team has 28 days from the time of sentencing to lodge an appeal against her sentence or conviction.
This window will close at midnight on October 6.
Patterson’s defence did not give any indication of an intention to appeal during her sentencing last month.
However, Thomson Geer partner and lawyer Justin Quill told 9News last month he expected Patterson would almost certainly try to appeal.
“I think she’s almost an unbackable favourite to appeal … She’s got money, she’s got time, she’s got nothing to lose,” he said.
“I felt like his honour was saying to Erin Patterson, ‘Stop the lies, don’t appeal. You’ve done the crime, now do the time’.”
To appeal her sentence or convictions, Patterson’s defence team need to provide specific grounds for the appeal, such as errors of law, an unreasonable verdict, or a miscarriage of justice.
If the appeal grounds are valid, Patterson’s case would be heard by judges in the Court of Appeal.
These judges have the ability to overturn sentences or convictions if they find grounds to.
It is possible that Patterson is given a harsher penalty if she appeals.
If an appeal against a sentence is allowed, the Court of Appeal could reduce or increase the sentence.
