Ian Wilkinson pays tribute to late wife Heather
Wilkinson is delivering his victim impact statement in court.
He begins by describing his wife, Heather, who was murdered by Patterson. He says:
She was a compassionate, intelligent, brave, witty, simply a delightful person who loved sharing life with others …
She was generous in her attitudes and with her resources. If she could help somebody, she would.
Wilkinson says Heather had a great sense of humour and it was a “joy” to be her in company.
His voice begins to crack as he says the pair shared a close marriage relationship for 44 years.
Together we faced life as a team and we delighted in each other’s company.
Wilkinson says the pair’s six children were thrown into an unprecedented situation where they had to take medical responsibility for their parents.
He says the trauma they experienced over their mother’s death and his attempted murder has left “deep wounds.”
Key events
Court adjourns until 2.15pm
There are a total of 28 victim impact statements, the court hears. The remainder will not be read in court.
Justice Christopher Beale says after the break the court will hear from a Department of Corrections employee about Erin Patterson’s custody conditions.
The hearing is adjourned until 2.15pm.
Simon Patterson describes media attention as ‘dehumanising’
Simon’s statement also calls out the “deplorable” actions of some legacy media outlets.
He details having his home ambushed by the media and says his family have become fearful of strangers. He says:
The children and I have been filmed in cafes and in the street.
He describes the media attention as “dehumanising”. He says:
I doubt I’ll get used to being treated in that way.
Simon Patterson says his children ‘robbed of hope’ in victim statement
The final victim impact statement is from Simon Patterson, which Gleadow reads out on his behalf.
He says he misses his parents and aunt “more than words can express”.
Simon says his two children have been left without grandparents and “robbed of hope”.
He says:
Like all of us, they face the daunting challenge of trying to comprehend what [Erin] has done.
The grim reality is they live in an irreparably broken home with a solo parent when almost everybody knows their mother murdered their grandparents.”
He says these are difficult hurdles to overcome.
Despite this both children are incredibly strong, loving, intelligent … with much help they are overcoming the hurdles.
‘They deserve better than this’: Don and Gail Patterson’s nephew gives statement
Naomi Gleadow also reads a statement from Tim Patterson, the nephew of Don and Gail, to the court.
He says after their deaths he wrote an entry in his diary:
I wrote in my diary: ‘Why did God decide to end such amazing lives in such a horrific manner? They deserve better than this.’
Tim says he now finds it difficult to “comprehend this world”. He says:
I still can’t believe that Don and Gail are gone.
Tim says sometimes it seems as though “they just haven’t seen each other in a while”, as if “they’re still there in Korumburra, sitting by the fire in their cosy living room”.
Don Patterson’s younger brother says murders severed ‘core relationships’
The court hears from Colin Patterson, the younger brother of Don, whose victim impact statement is read by Gleadow.
He says the “core relationships” in his life “have been severed”.
He describes his older brother Don as a “powerful influence” on him.
Court hears statement from Don Patterson’s mother
The victim impact statement of Martha Patterson, Don’s mother, is read by Naomi Gleadow.
Martha’s statement says the whole family is broken and she feels “broken-hearted”.
She says: “May God help our family to heal after this tragedy.”
Court hears statement from sister of Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson
Prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC is reading a victim impact statement on behalf of Lynette Young, the sister of Gail and Heather. She says:
I’m just so angry and so sad that my people are not here to be the loving parents and grandparents that they always were.
Young says since the deaths of her two sisters she felt as if she had to be “three daughters” for their father.
Ruth Dubois says ‘life feel less bright’ without mother Heather Wilkinson
Ruth Dubois, the Wilkinsons’ daughter, is delivering her victim impact statement.
She says in Heather’s final moments of life she was worrying about her family:
She was more concerned about our own family, our work, our kids, than she was about her own sudden and unexpected health crisis …
I miss her daily and life feels less bright without her.
Dubois says she grew up with Don and Gail as a “constant” in her life. She says the pair cared deeply for those around them.
Dubois says it’s horrible to know that the kindness of her parents and Don and Gail were used to lure them to the fatal lunch. She says:
The world seems colder and harsher knowing this.
Nino Bucci
Erin Patterson was in tears during Wilkinson’s statement, watching on quietly throughout. Her hands sat in her lap, the fingers turning over constantly as he neared the end of his statement. When Wilkinson finished, she reached for tissues from a box in front of her in the dock, and dabbed at her eyes and nose.
Wilkinson: ‘I am no longer Erin Patterson’s victim’
Wilkinson says he is “compelled to seek justice” for the deaths of Heather, Don and Gail.
But he says for his attempted murder, he offers Patterson forgiveness. He says:
I encourage Erin to receive my offer of forgiveness for those harms done to me …
I bear her no ill will.
He says his prayer for Patterson is that she will use her time in jail “wisely”. He says:
Now I am no longer Erin Patterson’s victim and she has become the victim of my kindness.
‘I only feel half alive’ without wife Heather, Ian Wilkinson tells court
Wilkinson says a “very important member of our family is missing”.
He says:
The greatest impact on Erin’s actions on me has been to deprive me of Heather’s company and Heather’s important place in our family …
The silence in our home is a daily reminder.
I continue to carry a heavy burden of grief over her untimely death. It’s a truly horrible thought to live with that somebody could decide to take her life.
I only feel half alive without her.
At this point, Wilkinson stops to wipe tears away from his eyes and is joined at the bar table where he is standing by his daughter, Ruth Dubois.
Wilkinson says his life is also “greatly impoverished” by the deaths of Don and Gail Patterson.
Ian Wilkinson pays tribute to late wife Heather
Wilkinson is delivering his victim impact statement in court.
He begins by describing his wife, Heather, who was murdered by Patterson. He says:
She was a compassionate, intelligent, brave, witty, simply a delightful person who loved sharing life with others …
She was generous in her attitudes and with her resources. If she could help somebody, she would.
Wilkinson says Heather had a great sense of humour and it was a “joy” to be her in company.
His voice begins to crack as he says the pair shared a close marriage relationship for 44 years.
Together we faced life as a team and we delighted in each other’s company.
Wilkinson says the pair’s six children were thrown into an unprecedented situation where they had to take medical responsibility for their parents.
He says the trauma they experienced over their mother’s death and his attempted murder has left “deep wounds.”
Ian Wilkinson to deliver first victim impact statement
Justice Christopher Beale says there are seven victim impact statements.
The first victim impact statement will be from Ian Wilkinson, the sole surviving lunch guest, the court hears.
Wilkinson will read his statement in court.
Nino Bucci
Erin Patterson, appearing gaunt and drawn compared with when she appeared in court for her trial, just responded in the affirmative to four questions regarding her particulars. There are about 10 members of the Wilkinson and Patterson family in court, including Ian Wilkinson, but not Simon Patterson.
Hearing under way
Patterson’s plea hearing has begun in Victoria’s supreme court.
She will hear her victims’ loved ones give statements about how the crime has impacted them.
Welcome
Welcome to our live coverage of Erin Patterson’s plea hearing.
On 7 July, Patterson was found guilty of murdering her estranged husband’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt Heather Wilkinson. A Victorian supreme court jury also found Patterson guilty of attempting to murder Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson.
In the pre-sentencing hearing, the prosecution and defence will make arguments about factors supreme court judge Justice Christopher Beale should take into account when sentencing Patterson.
The hearing also gives loved ones of the victims a chance to tell the court how the crime has affected them.
The prosecution has flagged “a lot” of victim impact statements will be heard.
The hearing is expected to begin at 10.30am.
