Erin Patterson jailed for life, Police officer's farewell, fugitive father killed in police shootout
September 7, 2025 • 10 mins
For the three lives she took and the one she attempted to take Erin Patterson will spend at least the next three decades of her life in jail.
As we go to air a funeral is being held for a veteran police officer who was killed in a police shootout in Victoria.
A fugitive father who'd been on the run with his three children for four years has been killed in a shoot out with New Zealand police today after an attempted hold-up at a rural supply store.
7NEWS Headlines with Edwina Bartholomew September 08, 2025.
For more news, head to www.7news.com.au
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Good afternoon. For the three lives she took and the
one she attempted to take, Aaron Patterson will spend at
least the next three decades of her life in jail.
A Supreme Court justice today calling out each of every
one of the mushroom killers lies and her elaborate cover
up as she sentenced her for murder and attempted murder.
(00:25):
Still green pinkies outside the Supreme Court of Victoria in
Melbourne joins us now still good afternoon. Justice Christopher Biale
was scathing but did not sentence her to life without parole.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Good afternoon, TI, Yes, that's right. Justice Beale said that
this was really the main dispute between the two parties
in this mushroom murder trial. The prosecution and the defense
ultimately agreed that this offending is some of the worst
in the category and that she was deserving of a
very harsh penalty, But the defense had asked that she
be given a non parole period of thirty years. The
(00:59):
prosecution of said that she shouldn't even have the opportunity
to be let out of jail at all. But Justice
Bill today took into considerations some of the prison conditions
that Aaron Patterson will now have to endure potentially for
the rest of her life. Now. He said that the
non parole period didn't diminish her offending, but he had
to consider the fact that she's in solitary confinement pretty
(01:21):
much every hour of the day, even having food and
medicine delivered to her through a flap in her door.
She can only really speak or is authorized to speak
to one other prisoner, and if she wants to access
any other part of the prison where she's now living,
she has to be flanked by two offices and she
has to be put in a prison van to go there.
So harsh conditions she'll be living under that the judge
(01:42):
really did take into consideration today when he imposed that
thirty three year non parole period. That means Aaron Patterson,
if she's ever allowed free, would be eighty one years
old before she's allowed to do so. Let's take a
listen now to some of the sentencing remarks from Justice Bill.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
I have no hesitation in finding that your offending falls
into the worst category for the offenses of murder and
attempted murder. Not only did you cut short three lives
and cause lasting damage to Ian Wilkinson's health, thereby devastating
the extended Patterson and Wilkinson families. You inflicted untold suffering
on your own children, whom you robbed of their beloved grandparents.
(02:23):
Your failure to exhibit any remorse pours salt into all
the victim's wounds. Rehabilitation has taken a back seat because
of the gravity of your offending. Fixing a non parole
period is not to undervalue the horrendous nature of your offending.
Your total effective sentence will be life imprisonment, and the
period during which you will be ineligible for parole will
(02:47):
be a very substantial one. Clearly, the jury was satisfied
beyond reasonable doubt that you committed the alleged offenses. Only
you know why you committed them.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Or the sole survivor. Ian Wilkinson spoke outside court after
this sentencing and he had an incredible message of gratitude
and kindness. What did he say?
Speaker 2 (03:11):
We tash Ian Wilkinson is a remarkable man, a remarkable
witness that we've seen throughout this ten week long murder trial.
We weren't expecting him to speak, but he did have
a message on the steps of the Supreme Court and
he spoke about how he wanted everyone involved to be
kind and continue showing kindness. Remember this is a man
who actually said to Aaron Patterson during her pre sentence
(03:33):
here in just a few weeks ago, that he forgives her.
And he said in a very powerful statement that he
is no longer her victim, but she is a victim
of his kindness. Now he is a pastor, he's a
very well respected man in the leon Gather and curran
Borough communities. Let's take a listen now to what he's
had to say.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
The court processes are a little bewildering to lay people
like me, and we're grateful for their expertise, their hard work,
and their perseverance that have secured this conviction. I'd also
like to commend them for their kindness and compassion showed
(04:15):
to us throughout this long process. They have also done
a wonderful job. We're also grateful for the staff of
the various public health services that played an important role
in dealing with the aftermath of the lunch. There are
so many services and agencies and people involved that I
(04:40):
can't start naming names, but please each one accept my
sincere gratitude for the path that you have played in
this process.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Extraordinary words, therefrom an and the still of course, the
focus is now on a likely appeal. What is the
likelihood of Aaron Patterson appealing.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Well, Tash, we'll have to wait and see. What we
do know though, is she has twenty eight days from
today to appeal her conviction, her sentence or both. Interesting
to remember that her defense team did concede that she
was deserving of the harshest penalty because of the murders
that she was found guilty of. In terms of her sentence,
her defense team did ask for a thirty year non
(05:26):
parole period and today she's been given a thirty three
year one. So we'll have to wait and see what
happens there. But certainly a very memorable day here at
the Victorian Supreme Court with Aaron Patterson being sentenced to
life behind bars.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Tash, I still thank you. And the church where Ian
Wilkinson is a pastor has just issued a statement on
the tragedy that has thrust a small regional town onto
the global stage. Jordy Wright reports.
Speaker 5 (05:51):
Taj Donna and Gale Patterson and Heather Wilkinson were pillars
of the corn Borough community, especially here at the local
church behind me, where sole survivor In Wilkinson still leads
Sunday services. This morning, a small group of parishioners gathered
inside behind closed doors to watch the live stream. Shortly
(06:13):
after Justice Bill delivered his sentence, they pinned a statement
on the church's noticeboard. It reads, justice is very important. However,
it does not bring back our much loved Heather, Don
and Gail. We now have only memories and echoes of
their wisdom, compassion and humor. We look forward to being
reunited with them in the future. We continue to love,
(06:34):
support and pray for the Wilkinson and Patterson families in
their ongoing grief. We also continue to pray for Erin.
It is time for people and communities to be given
the peace and space to move forward. For this congregation
and the wider community, they've been waiting for justice for
more than two years, but as the statement made clear,
(06:55):
today is just the first step in healing the deep
wounds left behind by triple murderer Aaron Patterson.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Tash Jordy, thank you, and as we go to where
this afternoon, a funeral is being held for a veteran
police officer who was killed in a police shootout in
regional Victoria. Neil Thompson, remembered as an adventurer and protector.
Nick McCallum is there and joins us. Now, Nick, we
understand an officer who survived the ambush is among the
(07:22):
many mourners.
Speaker 6 (07:26):
That's right, Tash. It's the second major police funeral here
in Victoria in the past four days. Sadly, Neil Thompson,
a thirty seven year veteran of the force, was killed
just days before he was due to retire. He was
trying to deliver a warrant at the property of Desi Freeman,
(07:49):
who is still on the run. He was killed with
a fellow officer, the Dean Defarte hot air. He was
buried last Friday. The funeral heard from Neil's partner, Lisa.
She spoke of how they'd recently bought a farm and
were renovating it together. Neil's sisters talked about a man
(08:09):
who loved adventure, who loved the outdoors. His colleagues talked
about how much he loved the job, but also about
the dangers and the raid itself. Thirteen days ago. Let's
have a lesson.
Speaker 7 (08:25):
To Neil. Every day was a new adventure. He took
us to places that if you ever go, and showed
us how brilliant life is if you have the courage
to try and through it all. He taught me how
to love without fear and how to be brave when
I'm scared, and Imi, I am so grateful you did
(08:47):
because I am scared.
Speaker 6 (08:50):
Never blame yourself for what happened.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
We know who to blame.
Speaker 6 (08:56):
For thirty seven years, Tom I knew the risks and
accepted them with courriage and pride, always first through the door.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
He was always there to protecting his mates.
Speaker 8 (09:07):
You can now enjoy fishing and shooting with Dad, or
watch Mum playing croquet in the great beyond. You will
always love you. We share our grief with Lisa and
your mates. You were the Golden Boy, adventurer and the Fatimda.
Speaker 6 (09:29):
The funeral should end shortly and then, like it did
on Friday, the three thousand mourners, most of them current
or past members, will go out onto the street and
form a guard of honor. On Friday, it took more
than twenty minutes for the hearse to drive through it.
It was so big.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Tash Nick McCallum, incredibly sad, Thank you. A fugitive father
who'd been on the run with his three children for
four years has been killed in a shootout with New
Zealand police today after an attempted hold up at a
rural supply store. One officer was shot in their head
and rushed to hospital where he's now undergoing surgery.
Good afternoon. For the three lives she took and the
one she attempted to take, Aaron Patterson will spend at
least the next three decades of her life in jail.
A Supreme Court justice today calling out each of every
one of the mushroom killers lies and her elaborate cover
up as she sentenced her for murder and attempted murder.
(00:25):
Still green pinkies outside the Supreme Court of Victoria in
Melbourne joins us now still good afternoon. Justice Christopher Biale
was scathing but did not sentence her to life without parole.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Good afternoon, TI, Yes, that's right. Justice Beale said that
this was really the main dispute between the two parties
in this mushroom murder trial. The prosecution and the defense
ultimately agreed that this offending is some of the worst
in the category and that she was deserving of a
very harsh penalty, But the defense had asked that she
be given a non parole period of thirty years. The
(00:59):
prosecution of said that she shouldn't even have the opportunity
to be let out of jail at all. But Justice
Bill today took into considerations some of the prison conditions
that Aaron Patterson will now have to endure potentially for
the rest of her life. Now. He said that the
non parole period didn't diminish her offending, but he had
to consider the fact that she's in solitary confinement pretty
(01:21):
much every hour of the day, even having food and
medicine delivered to her through a flap in her door.
She can only really speak or is authorized to speak
to one other prisoner, and if she wants to access
any other part of the prison where she's now living,
she has to be flanked by two offices and she
has to be put in a prison van to go there.
So harsh conditions she'll be living under that the judge
(01:42):
really did take into consideration today when he imposed that
thirty three year non parole period. That means Aaron Patterson,
if she's ever allowed free, would be eighty one years
old before she's allowed to do so. Let's take a
listen now to some of the sentencing remarks from Justice Bill.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
I have no hesitation in finding that your offending falls
into the worst category for the offenses of murder and
attempted murder. Not only did you cut short three lives
and cause lasting damage to Ian Wilkinson's health, thereby devastating
the extended Patterson and Wilkinson families. You inflicted untold suffering
on your own children, whom you robbed of their beloved grandparents.
(02:23):
Your failure to exhibit any remorse pours salt into all
the victim's wounds. Rehabilitation has taken a back seat because
of the gravity of your offending. Fixing a non parole
period is not to undervalue the horrendous nature of your offending.
Your total effective sentence will be life imprisonment, and the
period during which you will be ineligible for parole will
(02:47):
be a very substantial one. Clearly, the jury was satisfied
beyond reasonable doubt that you committed the alleged offenses. Only
you know why you committed them.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Or the sole survivor. Ian Wilkinson spoke outside court after
this sentencing and he had an incredible message of gratitude
and kindness. What did he say?
Speaker 2 (03:11):
We tash Ian Wilkinson is a remarkable man, a remarkable
witness that we've seen throughout this ten week long murder trial.
We weren't expecting him to speak, but he did have
a message on the steps of the Supreme Court and
he spoke about how he wanted everyone involved to be
kind and continue showing kindness. Remember this is a man
who actually said to Aaron Patterson during her pre sentence
(03:33):
here in just a few weeks ago, that he forgives her.
And he said in a very powerful statement that he
is no longer her victim, but she is a victim
of his kindness. Now he is a pastor, he's a
very well respected man in the leon Gather and curran
Borough communities. Let's take a listen now to what he's
had to say.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
The court processes are a little bewildering to lay people
like me, and we're grateful for their expertise, their hard work,
and their perseverance that have secured this conviction. I'd also
like to commend them for their kindness and compassion showed
(04:15):
to us throughout this long process. They have also done
a wonderful job. We're also grateful for the staff of
the various public health services that played an important role
in dealing with the aftermath of the lunch. There are
so many services and agencies and people involved that I
(04:40):
can't start naming names, but please each one accept my
sincere gratitude for the path that you have played in
this process.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Extraordinary words, therefrom an and the still of course, the
focus is now on a likely appeal. What is the
likelihood of Aaron Patterson appealing.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Well, Tash, we'll have to wait and see. What we
do know though, is she has twenty eight days from
today to appeal her conviction, her sentence or both. Interesting
to remember that her defense team did concede that she
was deserving of the harshest penalty because of the murders
that she was found guilty of. In terms of her sentence,
her defense team did ask for a thirty year non
(05:26):
parole period and today she's been given a thirty three
year one. So we'll have to wait and see what
happens there. But certainly a very memorable day here at
the Victorian Supreme Court with Aaron Patterson being sentenced to
life behind bars.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Tash, I still thank you. And the church where Ian
Wilkinson is a pastor has just issued a statement on
the tragedy that has thrust a small regional town onto
the global stage. Jordy Wright reports.
Speaker 5 (05:51):
Taj Donna and Gale Patterson and Heather Wilkinson were pillars
of the corn Borough community, especially here at the local
church behind me, where sole survivor In Wilkinson still leads
Sunday services. This morning, a small group of parishioners gathered
inside behind closed doors to watch the live stream. Shortly
(06:13):
after Justice Bill delivered his sentence, they pinned a statement
on the church's noticeboard. It reads, justice is very important. However,
it does not bring back our much loved Heather, Don
and Gail. We now have only memories and echoes of
their wisdom, compassion and humor. We look forward to being
reunited with them in the future. We continue to love,
(06:34):
support and pray for the Wilkinson and Patterson families in
their ongoing grief. We also continue to pray for Erin.
It is time for people and communities to be given
the peace and space to move forward. For this congregation
and the wider community, they've been waiting for justice for
more than two years, but as the statement made clear,
(06:55):
today is just the first step in healing the deep
wounds left behind by triple murderer Aaron Patterson.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Tash Jordy, thank you, and as we go to where
this afternoon, a funeral is being held for a veteran
police officer who was killed in a police shootout in
regional Victoria. Neil Thompson, remembered as an adventurer and protector.
Nick McCallum is there and joins us. Now, Nick, we
understand an officer who survived the ambush is among the
(07:22):
many mourners.
Speaker 6 (07:26):
That's right, Tash. It's the second major police funeral here
in Victoria in the past four days. Sadly, Neil Thompson,
a thirty seven year veteran of the force, was killed
just days before he was due to retire. He was
trying to deliver a warrant at the property of Desi Freeman,
(07:49):
who is still on the run. He was killed with
a fellow officer, the Dean Defarte hot air. He was
buried last Friday. The funeral heard from Neil's partner, Lisa.
She spoke of how they'd recently bought a farm and
were renovating it together. Neil's sisters talked about a man
(08:09):
who loved adventure, who loved the outdoors. His colleagues talked
about how much he loved the job, but also about
the dangers and the raid itself. Thirteen days ago. Let's
have a lesson.
Speaker 7 (08:25):
To Neil. Every day was a new adventure. He took
us to places that if you ever go, and showed
us how brilliant life is if you have the courage
to try and through it all. He taught me how
to love without fear and how to be brave when
I'm scared, and Imi, I am so grateful you did
(08:47):
because I am scared.
Speaker 6 (08:50):
Never blame yourself for what happened.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
We know who to blame.
Speaker 6 (08:56):
For thirty seven years, Tom I knew the risks and
accepted them with courriage and pride, always first through the door.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
He was always there to protecting his mates.
Speaker 8 (09:07):
You can now enjoy fishing and shooting with Dad, or
watch Mum playing croquet in the great beyond. You will
always love you. We share our grief with Lisa and
your mates. You were the Golden Boy, adventurer and the Fatimda.
Speaker 6 (09:29):
The funeral should end shortly and then, like it did
on Friday, the three thousand mourners, most of them current
or past members, will go out onto the street and
form a guard of honor. On Friday, it took more
than twenty minutes for the hearse to drive through it.
It was so big.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Tash Nick McCallum, incredibly sad, Thank you. A fugitive father
who'd been on the run with his three children for
four years has been killed in a shootout with New
Zealand police today after an attempted hold up at a
rural supply store. One officer was shot in their head
and rushed to hospital where he's now undergoing surgery.
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