But it’s unlikely to be the last time Patterson sees the inside of a courtroom.
This is what the road ahead could look like for her.
Where is Erin Patterson now?
After spending the trial in police custody in the Victorian town of Morwell, where she lobbied for the Supreme Court trial to be held, Patterson was yesterday taken to the Dame Phyllis Frost Correctional Centre.
The women’s prison, in Ravenhall in western Melbourne, is a couple hours’ drive from Morwell.
It could be the place where Patterson, reportedly being held in maximum security at the moment, serves out her sentence.
When will she be sentenced?
A pre-sentence hearing is expected in early August, but no date has been set.
At that hearing, Justice Chrisopher Beale will determine the appropriate sentence for the offences Patterson committed.
Victim impact statements can be delivered before the sentence is pronounced, including from relatives and loved ones of the victims of a crime.
Can Patterson appeal the verdict?
Patterson and her legal team have the option to appeal the verdict in the next 28 days, or to file for an appeal window extension.
Grounds for appeal include claims that the verdict was unreasonable, or that there were legal errors made in the trial.
An appeal can also be filed against the sentence ultimately imposed.
If a bid to appeal the case is accepted, it will go before the three-member Court of Appeal, which will decide by majority vote whether to uphold the Supreme Court’s verdict.
How long could Patterson spend in jail?
The maximum sentence for murder is life.
This could mean that Patterson spends the rest of her days behind bars.
However, a life sentence frequently includes a non-parole period, which is the minimum time a convict will spend in prison before they can apply for parole.
A sentence can also be imposed without parole, meaning the convict will never leave custody.
