Victoria Court of Appeal denies Erin Patterson parole chance
The Victorian Court of Appeal ruled on Friday that Erin Patterson will serve a life sentence with no possibility of parole.
Rare sentencing outcome confirmed
Justice Stephen McLeish described the offending as extraordinarily cold and calculated. This ruling places Patterson in a very small group of prisoners across Australia who face life without any chance of release. Legal experts note that non-parole periods are usually set even when a life sentence is imposed.
Previous killers had parole dates
Notorious figures like Adrian Bayley and Jaymes Todd received life sentences but were eligible for eventual freedom after their non-parole periods ended. Patterson's case differs because the court refused to attach a minimum term before she could apply for release. The decision marks one of only three or four instances in Victoria where such a refusal occurred.
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