7am Inside the courtroom for Erin Patterson's guilty verdict
Jul 7, 2025
In this compelling conversation, Sarah Krasnostein, an award-winning writer and legal scholar, shares her firsthand insights from the courtroom during Erin Patterson's trial. She vividly recounts the emotional atmosphere as the jury delivered a guilty verdict for three counts of murder and one of attempted murder. Sarah discusses the challenges jurors faced over ten weeks, the impact of Erin's stoic response, and how the verdict reverberates in the Morwell community. She also highlights surprising developments regarding jury perceptions and potential legal implications.
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Verdict Delivered in Courtroom
- Erin Patterson was found guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
- The victims were her ex-husband's parents and his auntie, while the attempted victim was the auntie's husband.
Jury's Intensive Role Explained
- The jury sat through 10 weeks of technical evidence including forensic data and cellphone tower mechanics.
- They were sequestered for a week, showing the high demands and seriousness of the case on the community jurors.
Jury Deliberation Secrecy
- In Australia, jury deliberations are confidential and jurors cannot discuss how they reached a verdict.
- This protects the integrity of the process but leaves legal scholars and public curious about internal jury discussions.