Alone in Manchester (2024)
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Advocacy group calls for end to solitary confinement for triple killer Erin Patterson
Justice Action, an advocacy non-profit, has demanded an end to the solitary confinement of Erin Patterson, a triple killer sentenced to life imprisonment for poisoning four members of her estranged husband's family with death cap mushrooms. Patterson has spent 794 days in the restrictive Gordon Unit at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, a maximum security women's prison, due to the notorious nature of her crimes. The group argues that her conditions violate UN rules for prisoner treatment established in 2015, which limit solitary confinement to 15 days at a time. Justice Action coordinator Brett Collins stated that Patterson's prolonged isolation has led to documented psychiatric harms including severe anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, self-harm, and heightened suicide risk. The organization has proposed that Patterson be provided with peer mentoring support to address these risks. Patterson was sentenced to a minimum of 33 years in prison after being found guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in July 2023. Her estranged husband's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt, Heather Wilkinson, died after consuming a beef wellington dish she prepared, while her husband's aunt's husband, Ian Wilkinson, survived after falling critically ill. Patterson maintains her innocence, claiming it was a tragic accident, but the jury rejected this defense. The Director of Public Prosecutions is appealing the minimum non-parole period, arguing she should die in prison. Corrections Victoria has stated that Patterson's placement in the management unit is reviewed monthly due to the risk she poses to other prisoners. She is housed in a 4m by 2m cell with limited access to the outside world, receiving meals and medication through a slot in the door, and has no contact with other prisoners. The prison allows her a minimum of one hour out of her cell each day, and she is permitted to have crochet equipment, books, and a TV in her cell. Despite her isolation, she has been described as a 'keen crocheter' by prison staff. The Court of Appeal noted that Patterson is likely to remain in the Gordon Unit for the foreseeable future due to her notoriety. Justice Stephen McLeish stated, 'What I feel fairly confident about is she's going to remain notorious for a long, long time.'