A judge in Australia on Monday sentenced triple-murderer Erin Patterson to life in prison.

In addition, the judge handed out a non-parole period of 33 years for poisoning four of her estranged husband's relatives with death cap mushrooms. Three of them, Don and Gail Patterson, and Heather Wilkinson, died.

How does the only survivor feel?

The lone survivor told the court that the actions of Patterson had left him feeling "half alive."

A pastor in a local church, Ian Wilkinson spent months in hospital, and said on Monday he had only just survived.

Patterson maintains her innocence, saying the poisonings were not intentional.

But Wilkinson has urged Patterson to confess.

"I encourage Erin to receive my offer of forgiveness for those harms done to me with full confession and repentance. I bear her no ill will," he said.

"I am no longer Erin Patterson's victim and she has become the victim of my kindness," Wilkinson added.

Motive remains a mystery

Patterson was convicted in July of triple murder for serving a deadly meal to her estranged husband's parents, aunt and uncle during a beef Wellington lunch laced with death cap mushrooms at her home in 2023.

Last month, evidence revealed in court that Patterson may have also tried to kill her husband by poisoning him with a chicken korma.

The 50-year-old's trial attracted interest from podcasters, film crews and true crime fans to a courthouse in the rural town of Morwell, a sedate hamlet in Victoria better known for its prize-winning roses.

Though a ruling has been made, the global interest in what became known as the "mushroom murders" may not go away, as Patterson insists upon her innocence while the motive of the murders also remains a mystery.

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko