Latest news with #VictimImpactStatements
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
How Erin Patterson failed in her bid to keep her darkest secrets hidden from the public - as court makes HUGE call
Death cap mushroom killer Erin Patterson 's bid to keep pre-trial evidence a secret until her appeal has failed after a judge found open justice is 'fundamental'. Patterson, 50, wore a black top and glasses as she faced Melbourne 's Supreme Court on Friday morning by video link from prison for a brief hearing. Justice Christopher Beale set down two days for Patterson's plea hearing, which prosecutors said would include 'a lot' of victim impact statements. The hearing will take place on August 25 and 26 at the court in Melbourne and not Morwell, where the near-three-month trial was held, due to maintenance issues. Prosecutor Jane Warren confirmed the first day of the hearing would be taken up with statements from victims, including family and friends of the three people she murdered: Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and Heather Wilkinson, 66. The sole survivor of the deadly July 2023 lunch, Ian Wilkinson, is also likely to give the court his statement. After firming up court dates, Justice Beale overturned an application by Patterson's legal team to keep all pre-trial evidence secret to preserve her appeal rights. Patterson cannot lodge an appeal until after she is sentenced. Her defence team had argued pre-trial evidence should not be released to media due to 'unprecedented' reporting, with several podcasts, documentaries and a mini-series in development. Defence barrister Colin Mandy SC claimed releasing the evidence could leave an indelible impression on a jury if she successfully appealed and faced a retrial. However, media argued against the claim, saying it was 'speculative' she would face another trial and that jurors would be directed not to engage with the evidence. Justice Beale found that it was 'unlikely' an appeal of Patterson's conviction would succeed, but that - and the possibility of a retrial - could not be excluded. He ultimately ruled in favour of the media and did not make a suppression order over the evidence. 'Open justice is a fundamental concern of our criminal justice jurisdiction,' he said. The ruling means that evidence, including information about the alleged attempted poisonings of her husband, Simon Patterson, can now be reported. The judge also approved release of Patterson's police interview. Patterson was found guilty of three murders and one attempted murder over the July 29, 2023, lunch at her home in Leongatha. The mother-of-two deliberately served up a death cap mushroom-laced beef Wellington to Don, Gail, Heather and Ian. She pleaded not guilty and denied all charges, including over the alleged attempted murder of Simon. Those charges were dropped at the beginning of her trial in April. Patterson spent eight days in the witness box during her regional Victorian trial, where she admitted a series of lies and said she may have accidentally included foraged mushrooms in the beef Wellington. This included lies to police about her interest in wild mushrooms, and lies about owning a food dehydrator which she dumped at a local tip. The trial became a media circus, involving 252 media outlets including 15 international outlets, making it the biggest matter the Supreme Court has managed in recent history. Patterson will have 28 days to lodge an appeal after she is sentenced.
IOL News
19-06-2025
- IOL News
Umlazi hostel murders: Five men receive life sentences for brutal killings
On June 3, 2023, the deceased - Phakamani Lukhozi, Thamsanqa Shongwe, Mpilo Khumalo, Bongani Mkane, Lungani Sikhobi, Yandisa Msungubali, Nkululeko Lukhozi, and Mxolisi Mthethwa - were shot and killed while they were socialising at a hostel residence. Their killers have each received eight life terms. Image: Ron / AI Five men have each received eight life sentences and 15 years imprisonment for the murders which occurred at the Glebelands Men's Hostel in Umlazi in 2023. The convicts - namely Bongile Mabele, Siyathemba Mthwana, Nkosayikhethi Njeya, Bongani Mboyiyana, and Sibusiso Mkhonde - were sentenced at the Durban High Court this week. They were each convicted on eight counts of murder, joint possession of a prohibited firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. On the fateful night of June 3, 2023, the deceased - Phakamani Lukhozi, Thamsanqa Shongwe, Mpilo Khumalo, Bongani Mkane, Lungani Sikhobi, Yandisa Msungubali, Nkululeko Lukhozi, and Mxolisi Mthethwa - were shot and killed while they were socialising at a hostel residence. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, confirmed that the accused and deceased all resided at the hostel. Ramkisson-Kara said: 'The accused were friends with each other, and all the deceased were known to each other. Mabele was the block chairperson for some of the blocks at the hostel, and he oversaw the daily operations and allocation of accommodation for those blocks. Sometimes, his co-accused assisted him in executing his duties. 'Phakamani Lukhozi (Phakamani) oversaw the daily operations and accommodation of some other blocks at the hostel. These blocks were not controlled by Mabele. Mabele was not on good terms with Phakamani because he (Phakamani) refused to relinquish control of his blocks and submit to Mabele's leadership. Mabele then decided to kill Phakamani. Together with his co-accused, they planned to shoot and kill Phakamani and his friends,' said Ramkisson-Kara. Phakamani and his friends were accosted during the early hours of the morning while in a room at the hostel. 'The accused armed themselves with firearms and proceeded to the room. Some of them kept guard at the hostel gate, some stayed outside the room, and others went into the room where they began shooting at the occupants. The eight men were fatally wounded and died at the scene. The post-mortem results indicated multiple gunshot wounds.' In court, Advocate Rakesh Singh led the evidence of a Section 204 witness. The State also handed in Victim Impact Statements (VIS) compiled by two men who were present on the day of the incident.
