Secret move to seize Erin Patterson's property for victims revealed
Legal sources speaking on condition of anonymity said the DPP could challenge the mortgage and argue Doogue & George knew at the time it was taken out that the property was 'risky' since Patterson cooked the beef Wellington parcels used to commit the crime in the kitchen.
However, the source said Patterson's lawyers could also argue that prosecutors had a chance to restrain the property earlier and failed to do so. They could also argue Patterson had not been convicted at the time, and it was their view that she hadn't committed any offences.
'It's for a judge to ultimately say,' one source said. 'If one of them wants to go off to the Court of Appeal, the Court of Appeal might see it differently.'
Patterson served the poisoned meal to her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson and her husband Ian Wilkinson, in the Gibson Street property on July 29, 2023.
Don, Gail and Heather died less than a week later. Ian, a Baptist pastor in Korumburra, eventually recovered after spending several weeks in hospital, most of those in a coma.
Ian, as well as members of the Wilkinson and Patterson families, could be eligible for compensation.
The five-bedroom property is likely to be difficult to sell, given its history as the scene of a major crime and the ghoulish attraction it has become for true-crime fans.
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True-crime aficionados and curious locals have been frequently spotted driving along the quiet road to take a peek at the house.
The 1.2 hectare property, surrounded by gumtrees and paddocks, has been labelled 'Erin's Mushroom House' on Google Maps. The listing includes a 5-star review by an online user alongside jokes about the mushroom meal.
Just before the 12-person jury began deliberations in the case, black plastic sheeting was used to cover the external fencing of the property – creating a kind of privacy shield. It was taken down days after the guilty verdicts.
During the trial, Patterson spoke about her Leongatha house, telling the jury she'd helped design it using Microsoft Paint and wanted it to be her forever home.
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7NEWS
2 days ago
- 7NEWS
Isla Fisher addresses Erin Patterson movie rumours after mum convicted of murdering three with death cap mushrooms
Australian actress Isla Fisher has spoken out about portraying mass murderer Erin Patterson amid rumours the now notorious case will soon be turned into a movie or TV show. In a new interview, the ex-Home and Away star discussed the possibility of playing the convicted killer. On July 7, a jury found 50-year-old Patterson Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Patterson served her guests the deadly meal during a visit to her home in Leongatha, in regional Victoria, in July 2023. The mother-of-two was convicted of killing her estranged husband Simon's parents Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and his aunt Heather Wilkinson, 66. She was also found guilty of the attempted murder of Wilkinson's husband, Ian, 68. The infamous case is expected to be dramatised for TV and film with a Netflix crew spotted outside the Morwell courtroom during the week the jury deliberated and the ABC greenlighting a drama series to be based on Patterson's trial. And in a new interview with Harper's BAZAAR this week — Fisher hinted she'd love to be involved. ''Do you think I could play her?'', Fisher asked the interviewer. The journalist swiftly replied 'No', explaining that Fisher bore little resemblance to Patterson. Despite the differences in looks, Fisher has played difficult and dark characters before. One of her first acting roles was playing Shannon Reed, a teenager living with an eating disorder, on Australia's favourite TV drama, Home and Away. Since then, her impressive 30-year career has included a range of roles. Fisher has starred in a number of blockbuster Hollywood rom-coms, including Wedding Crashers and Confessions of a Shopaholic. She's also played a magician in Now You See Me and portrayed a reclusive columnist hiding her true identity as a werewolf in the TV series, Wolf Life Me. The Hollywood actress, who shares three children with ex-husband comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, currently lives in London, UK, but grew up in Perth, Western Australia. Patterson is awaiting sentencing after the jury found her guilty on all counts of murder and attempted murder last month. The first dramatisation of her trial and case is expected to come from the ABC. The national broadcaster's show — called Toxic — hails from renowned Australian filmmakers Tony Ayres and Elise McCredie, who are working with journalist Rachael Brown. Toxic will be told from multiple perspectives, and according to the filmmakers will be presented 'without judgment'. It's been billed as a thriller that will delve into her motherhood, faith and marriage. 'True stories ask storytellers to probe the complexities of human behaviour. What really lies beneath the headlines? It's both a challenge and a responsibility to go beyond the surface — to reveal, not just sensationalise,' Ayres said in a statement. Allen & Unwin also announced the release of The Mushroom Murders, by true-crime author Greg Haddrick, on sale in November.
