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‘A keen crocheter’ who has not used chaplaincy servicesUnder questioning by Warren, Hosking says Patterson has not used the chaplaincy services available to her at the prison.Hosking tells the court about Patterson’s cell:“I understand she’s a keen crocheter. She has a lot of wool and crochet equipment within there.”“She has her computer which she’s had for some time.”Patterson also has crocheted blankets she has made herself, Hosking says.“She also has a hair straightener and a fan,” she says.Hosking says after Patterson is sentenced she will have access to the prison’s education services.ShareKey eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureLibrary access limitedHosking says due to staff shortages, there have been more lockdowns at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre since the middle of 2024.Consequently, Patterson’s access to some areas of the prison including the library have been limited, Hosking says.Hiring at the prison was paused due to Covid and lower levels of prisoners, the court hears.Hosking says she expects staff shortages to ease later in the year due to a current recruitment drive.Share’A keen crocheter’ who has not used chaplaincy servicesUnder questioning by Warren, Hosking says Patterson has not used the chaplaincy services available to her at the prison.Hosking tells the court about Patterson’s cell:“I understand she’s a keen crocheter. She has a lot of wool and crochet equipment within there.”“She has her computer which she’s had for some time.”Patterson also has crocheted blankets she has made herself, Hosking says.“She also has a hair straightener and a fan,” she says.Hosking says after Patterson is sentenced she will have access to the prison’s education services.SharePatterson’s life behind barsWithin six weeks of arriving at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre – a maximum security women’s prison in Victoria – Patterson was moved from the Gordon unit (a restricted unit) to the Murray unit.Hosking says the Murray unit is for prisoners requiring more supervision or protection. In March 2024, Patterson returned to the Gordon unit due to safety concerns. She later returned to the Murray unit before being transferred to the Gordon unit in June 2024.Hosking says Patterson has engaged with forensic intervention services – rehabilitation and treatment programs within the prison – for a “period of time”.“She is still able to access that. She has most recently … refused to engage,” she says.The Dame Phyllis Frost Centre maximum security women’s prison in Melbourne. Photograph: Con Chronis/AAPShareUpdated at 06.01 BSTThe court hears Hosking has made an affidavit about Patterson’s custody conditions.Prosecutor Jane Warren is questioning Hosking.Hosking says when Patterson was taken into custody in 2023 she was assigned a “major offender” status due to a high volume of media attention.ShareJenny Hosking, the assistant commissioner for the sentence management division at Corrections Victoria is appearing via video link.ShareUpdated at 05.34 BSTWho has the court heard from so far?Earlier, we heard from family members affected by the murder of Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson. The court also heard from Ian Wilkinson, the sole surviving lunch guest.The Victorian supreme court heard seven victim impact statements, out of a total of 28, from:Ian WilkinsonRuth Dubois, Heather and Ian’s daughterLynette Young, Heather and Gail’s sisterMartha Patterson, Don’s motherColin Patterson, Don’s brotherTim Patterson, Don’s nephewSimon Patterson, Erin’s estranged husbandThe remaining statements will not be read in court.Lynette’s Young statement was read by prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC.Simon Patterson, Erin’s estranged husband, had his victim impact statement read in court by Naomi Gleadow, his cousin. Gleadow also read statements from Martha, Colin and Tim.ShareUpdated at 05.33 BSTErin Patterson’s plea hearing has resumed in the Victorian supreme court.ShareNino BucciIan Wilkinson says he forgives Erin Patterson for trying to murder him but cannot offer her forgiveness for killing three other people with poisoned beef wellingtons, a Victorian court has heard.You can read more about the victim impact statement Wilkinson delivered this morning here:ShareCourt adjourns until 2.15pmThere 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.ShareUpdated at 02.58 BSTSimon 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.
ShareUpdated at 02.48 BSTSimon Patterson says his children ‘robbed of hope’ in victim statementThe 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.
Simon Patterson arrives at court during Erin Patterson’s murder trial. Photograph: Diego Fedele/EPAShareUpdated at 02.58 BST‘They deserve better than this’: Don and Gail Patterson’s nephew gives statementNaomi 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”.ShareUpdated at 02.58 BSTDon 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.ShareUpdated at 02.54 BSTCourt hears statement from Don Patterson’s motherThe 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.”ShareUpdated at 02.57 BST
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