MELBOURNE — An Australian judge sentenced convicted killer Erin Patterson yesterday to life in prison with parole after 33 years for killing three people with toxic mushrooms, capping a trial that sparked a global media frenzy.

Patterson, 50, was convicted in July of triple murder for serving a poisonous meal to her estranged husband’s parents, aunt and uncle during a beef Wellington lunch at her home in 2023.

Her trial drew podcasters, film crews and true crime fans to a courthouse in the rural town of Morwell, a sedate hamlet in Victoria better known for its prize-winning roses.

Audiences from New York to New Delhi followed every twist of what many now simply call the “mushroom murders”.The motive for the killings remains a mystery.

Patterson was sentenced yesterday morning in Melbourne, where Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale said she had inflicted “trauma” on her victims and their families.

“Your failure to exhibit any remorse pours salt into all the victims’ wounds,” he said.

“The gravity of your offending warrants the imposition of the maximum penalties for your crimes,” he added.

She was sentenced to life in prison but will be eligible for parole after 33 years, when she will be 83 years old.

Her legal team had argued she should be granted the chance of release after 30 years, saying the notoriety of her case would mean she spends most of her sentence in isolation.

She now has 28 days to appeal both her convictions and her sentence.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Patterson wore a paisley shirt as the sentence was read out, with her hair tied back.

Speaking after the sentence was handed down, Pastor Ian Wilkinson — the only guest to survive the toxic mushroom lunch — thanked those who had supported the family in the aftermath of the murders.

“I’d like to encourage everybody to be kind to each other,” he said.

“Please respect our privacy as we continue to grieve and heal,” he added.