Erin Patterson: Judge’s hidden message in sentence
There was one clear message in Erin Patterson’s sentencing that the public might have missed.
Judges sometimes talk in code, a top lawyer says – and there was one clear message in triple murderer Erin Patterson’s sentencing that the public might have missed.
Patterson will spend at least 33 years in prison, with Justice Christopher Beale saying on Monday morning her offending fell into the “worst category”.
The judge said Patterson had showed “no evidence of remorse” after the murders, adding: “Your offending involved an enormous betrayal of trust.
“Your victims were all your relatives by marriage. More than that, they had all been good to you and your children over many years.”
Justice Beale also mentioned an offer of forgiveness from Patterson’s victim Ian Wilkinson, the sole survivor of the poisoned lunch that killed three of her in-laws.
When he read out a victim impact statement last month, the devout Christian had encouraged Patterson to accept his offer with “full confession and repentance”.
“That offer of forgiveness presents you with an opportunity,” Justice Beale said on Monday.
“You would do well to embrace it in the manner he suggests.”
Justin Quill, partner at major law firm Thomson Geer, has listened to hundreds of sentences and said the comment was full of meaning.
“Judges sometimes talk in code – there are things they want to say but can’t say,” Mr Quill told news.com.au.
“The judge noted Mr Wilkinson’s offer of forgiveness and said, ‘you would do well to accept his offer’.
“I think what his Honour was saying was, you should just stop with the lies. I took it to mean he was saying, ‘Don’t appeal – do your time, take your medicine.’”
Patterson will have until October 6 to lodge an appeal against her conviction, sentence or both.
A historic case
Patterson’s was the first ever lifestreamed sentence in Victoria, with more than 10,000 viewers tuning into the Supreme Court’s official stream and many more across news networks.
Mr Quill said the livestream was a “fantastic thing” that helped to give the public an insight into the court system.
“No court reporter, no matter how good they are, can explain a court proceeding to the public as well as the public actually seeing and hearing it with their own eyes and ears,” he said.
“I hope that other judges will see the benefits of televised sentences and adopt it as standard practice.
“Every crime has a ripple effect. The actual victims of a murder stretches into the hundreds, potentially thousands, and not all of those people can get into a courtroom and watch, that’s just the reality of the judicial system.
“It’s usually through the media that we get to see court proceedings, so the more televised criminal matters the better, in my view.”
Patterson was not visible in the livestream of her sentencing. She looked ahead towards Justice Beale for much of the proceeding – and at one point had her eyes closed for several minutes – before flashing a final glare at reporters.
“I’m absolutely not surprised it (the livestream) didn’t show her,” said Mr Quill.
“She has no choice to be there and it would be a form of humiliation and punishment for the cameras to be on her.”
Sam Russo, senior associate at Gallant Law, agreed that more sentencings should be lifestreamed in future.
“I think it’s important for the provisions of the Open Court Act to do it more often,” Mr Russo told news.com.au.
“It’s important for the community to see it and see how our court system operates in an open capacity … How we get to the sentences that we get to.
“This is essentially another day for us (lawyers) but the community at large don’t necessarily get to see that.”
He pointed to high-profile sentencings being streamed in the US as a sign there was a public appetite for a glimpse inside courtrooms during major cases.
“I think it’s something that as media and the entertainment progresses, we’re going to have to keep up with.”
But he added that court lifestreams required a “balancing act between the interests of justice and the impact on victims and their families”.
He, too, thought it would have been a step too far to show Patterson on camera during her sentencing.
“I think that goes beyond – it’s more of an entertainment side of things, and we need to be careful in not crossing that line.”
Survivor speaks
Patterson was found guilty after an 11-week trial of murdering Don and Gail Patterson — the parents of her estranged husband Simon — and his aunt Heather Wilkinson. She was also convicted of the attempted murder of Ian Patterson, Heather’s husband.
Ian Wilkinson gave a statement outside court thanking police for their investigation.
“They brought to light the truth of what happened to three good people,” he said.
“We are grateful for the truth that brought this to light. I’m also very grateful for the kindness and compassion they showed us, me and my family, throughout the process.”
“We’re also grateful for the staff of the various public health services that played an important role in dealing with the aftermath of the lunch.
“There are so many services and agencies and people involved that I can’t start naming names. Please each one accept my sincere gratitude for the part you have played in this process.
“We’re thankful that when things go wrong, there are good people and services and systems available to help us recover.
“Our lives and life our community depends on the kindness of others. I’d like to encourage everybody to be kind to each other.
“Finally, I want to say thank you to the many people from across Australia and around the world who through their prayers and messages of support have encouraged us. I thank the people of the Leongatha and Korumburra communities in particular. Your thoughtfulness and care has been a great encouragement to us.”