Erin Patterson sentencing: ‘Unprecedented media coverage’ puts murderer at ‘significant risk’

Erin Patterson’s sentencing hearing has concluded, with Justice Christopher Beale noting the media’s forthcoming books, documentaries and TV series about the case will put the convicted murderer at “significant risk” for “many years to come”.

“I infer that given the unprecedented media coverage of your case, and the books, documentaries and TV series about you which are all in the pipeline, you are likely to remain a notorious prisoner for many years to come, and as such remain at significant risk from other prisoners,” Justice Beale said in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Monday morning.

Despite the ongoing risks and notoriety, Justice Beale noted that Patterson’s prolonged intent to kill, “substantial pre-meditation”, her lies to police, the lack of remorse, the “elaborate cover-up” of her guilt, and the substantial suffering and trauma of her direct and indirect victims, placed her offending into the “worst category”.

“Your offending involved an enormous betrayal of trust… [The victims] had all been good to you and your children over many years… Not only did you cut short three lives and cause lasting damage to Ian Wilkinson’s health… you inflicted untold suffering of your own children,” the judge said.

Patterson was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, and was given a life sentence each for the murders of Gail Patterson, Don Patterson and Heather Wilkinson. All sentences will be served concurrently with a non-parole period of 33 years.

This was the first time a television camera was allowed into the Supreme Court of Victoria.

The Court said Justice Beale made the decision to increase understanding of the work of the court.

“Given the intense public interest in the case, the broadcast will provide an opportunity to inform the public of the reasons for sentence promptly and completely,” he said.

Media organisations across the country accessed the stream with many running live blogs alongside the broadcast.

From the Nine News site

Nine’s coverage, including on 9News.com.au and its mastheads such as The Sydney Morning Herald, was surrounded by multiple ads for the Stan Original series Death Cap Murders Revealed, which launches on the streamer on 14 September.

The Court’s livestream was hosted on Vimeo, with no option for regular viewers to share or embed the feed. The video’s page had a clear warning that the court footage must not be recorded, rebroadcast or transmitted, including via photos, screenshots, and audio and visual recordings. The Court was clear this included posting to social media.

At various points throughout the 45-minute sentencing, there were upwards of 10,000 people tuned into the direct livestream.

Unlike regular viewers, media outlets could use the feed, provided they met certain conditions.

“News outlets that commit to streaming the sentence live and in full will be able to promote their broadcast in advance and members of the public wishing to watch on television or news websites should be guided by individual station directions,” the Court said.

There have been instances, however, of the media being lashed by the Court, with multiple allegations of contempt of court throughout the trial.

Other high-profile cases in recent years have also taken advantage of streaming technologies.

Justice Michael Lee’s Federal Court ruling in the Bruce Lehmann defamation trial against Network 10 and Lisa Wilkinson was broadcast live on YouTube in April last year. Justice Darryl Rangiah’s findings against the ABC in Antoinette Lattouf’s unfair dismissal case were also available on YouTube in June.