It’s been a month since convicted “Mushroom Murderer” Erin Patterson learnt she would likely spend the rest of her life behind bars in a tiny cell described as a “box smaller than a toilet” and nicknamed “the slot”.
Housed in the Gordon Unit isolation ward at Melbourne’s Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, the convicted killer, 51, is not only tormented by the “screaming and yelling” outside her prison cell, but inside the conditions are so bad that some inmates have likened it to “torture”.
Horrific life in solitary
Former prisoner Ashleigh Chapman, who served four years in the jail, says life in the isolation unit is horrific. Her cell was so small, it took only seven steps to walk from end to end.
“We were going days without water,” says Chapman.
“We were getting quite sick and a lot of us had lost a lot of weight.”
Excessive isolation beyond UN guidelines
Patterson’s been housed in the prison’s isolation unit for her own safety for around 400 days already. This far exceeds the 15 days of solitary confinement that’s recommended by the United Nations. She has her meals passed through a trap door and has no communication with other inmates. She spends 22 to 24 hours in the cell each day.
Endless lockdowns take a toll
Since July 2024, the prison has had 106 lockdowns where no inmates could leave their cells. One of those lockdowns lasted 43 hours. Patterson does have access to some creature comforts, such as magazines, books, a hair straightener, a computer and crocheting equipment, but there are concerns her human rights are being violated by the conditions.
Human rights concerns raised
“While her crimes are appalling, the act of caging any human being in prolonged conditions of sensory deprivation and lack of human contact is anathema to society,” medical expert and advocate Clive Solomon says.
“It diminishes us all. I honestly cannot conceive of such an existence.”
Experts warn of suicide risk
Meanwhile, law professor Thalia Anthony tells us, “The Gordon Unit is notorious for high suicide risk. Prisoners are confined to a small space and rarely given more than an hour outside their cells. “Prison conditions should comply with human rights obligations and avoid cruel, inhumane, degrading treatment of prisoners.”
Now a new courtroom battle could be emerging as the Victorian Director of Public Prosecutions files an appeal, claiming “the sentence handed down to Erin Patterson is manifestly inadequate”.
Life sentence for Patterson
In September, Patterson received a life sentence with a non-parole period of 33 years for the deaths of her in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, as well as Heather Wilkinson, 66. The convicted killer has since hired human rights lawyer Julian McMahon, who has a history of working with criminals he says “no one else wants to defend”.
If the court accepts the defence’s appeal, tipped to be filed in early November, Patterson’s case could return to court for a retrial.
Her car hits Facebook
Patterson’s little red MG SUV, which she was constantly seen driving around in before her arrest in November 2023, was recently listed on Facebook Marketplace for a steal at $18,500.
“Priced to sell quickly. Selling my MG ZST Core, 2023, with just 22,000kms,” Patterson’s power of attorney said in the listing.
“Only selling because of an upgrade.”
The small, red crossover became synonymous with the case as it was used to dump the dehydrator in the crime.
