Erin Patterson's red MG SUV listed for 'quick sale' on Facebook Marketplace
Power of attorney lists car for $18,500; sale described as private and unrelated to conviction, listing later removed.
A red 2023 MG SUV owned by Erin Patterson, the Leongatha woman convicted in a mushroom-murder case, appeared in a Melbourne Facebook Marketplace listing this week with a 'quick sale' label. The car was advertised for $18,500 and described as being in excellent condition with about 22,000 kilometres on the odometer. Patterson's power of attorney, Ali Prior, posted the listing but did not mention any link to the court case, saying the sale was private and conducted under her authority.
The vehicle has drawn renewed attention because it is the same car that appeared in CCTV footage shown during Patterson's trial. The footage depicted Patterson driving the MG to the Koonwarra Transfer Station, where she disposed of a food dehydrator used to dry death-cap mushrooms, part of the evidence in the fatal lunch on August 2, 2023. The car was also visible when reporters surrounded Patterson outside her Leongatha home in August, including moments when she appeared to brush away tears.
Public records and trial coverage note that Patterson was found guilty on three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder for serving a poisoned beef Wellington to relatives in July 2023. She received a life sentence with a non-parole period of 33 years on September 8, a ruling Justice Christopher Beale described as reflecting premeditation and ongoing intent to kill. The case drew unprecedented live coverage from the Victorian Supreme Court, and authorities emphasized that the sale of the car was not a consideration in the sentencing or the investigation, according to Prior.
Prior told the Herald Sun the sale was a private matter and that she held power of attorney to sell Patterson’s car if instructed to do so. The listing stated the car was being sold because of an upgrade, described it as in excellent condition, and claimed it drove beautifully and was economical. The ad was later removed from Facebook Marketplace, and there has been no public indication that the sale would affect Patterson’s conviction or parole status.
The case remains a high-profile example of Australia’s criminal justice proceedings, with Patterson’s sentencing broadcast nationally for the first time in the state’s history. Prosecutors argued that the crime spree, including the alleged ongoing intent to kill, warranted the maximum penalties; the court agreed, resulting in a lengthy non-parole period that will keep Patterson behind bars for decades. The story continues to generate international interest as observers track the legal aftershocks and any potential appeals.