# ‘Catastrophic’ hotel mix-up undermined mushroom murder trial, court told

https://mins.news/en/item/25877

- BBC News, 2026-08-19 08:25 UTC
- Society
- Original: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czjlxenlgkko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

> Lawyers for Australian mushroom murderer Erin Patterson told an appeal hearing that jurors stayed at the same hotel as prosecutors, a key police witness and journalists while deliberating. They said the mix-up undermined the verdicts and required a retrial. Prosecutors said it was accidental and there was no evidence of contact. The prosecution is also appealing Patterson’s 33-year parole period as inadequate.

## Related coverage

- [Australian mushroom murderer Erin Patterson begins appeal](https://mins.news/en/video/27066) — Reuters, 2026-08-20
- [Australia mushroom killer's lawyers cite jury irregularities in appeal](https://mins.news/en/item/26294) — France 24, 2026-08-19
- [Erin Patterson says juror hotel arrangement was a ‘catastrophic’ failure of justice](https://mins.news/en/item/25715) — The Guardian, 2026-08-19