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Mushroom murderer fails to overturn convictions in Australian court challenge

Photo: BBC

Australia's mushroom killer has failed to overturn her murder convictions on appeal, with the court also ruling that she never be released from prison.

Erin Patterson, 52, was found guilty of murdering three relatives and attempting to kill another when she served them a toxic mushroom-laced meal in 2023. Her life sentence included a non-parole period of 33 years.

In Victoria's Court of Appeal on Friday, three judges threw out her appeal against her convictions and agreed with the prosecution that her sentence was inadequate, as it allowed for the possibility of freedom.

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Hyrox athlete who soiled herself in race tells BBC she put others at risk but says backlash was traumatic

An Australian athlete has admitted putting others at risk by continuing to race after soiling herself during an endurance sports event. Speaking exclusively to the BBC ahead of her return to the sport, Joanna Wietrzyk suggested her determination to win the Hyrox race in Beijing in September had clouded her judgement: "It was my decision to continue racing so I take full responsibility for that." Challenged over why she carried on, she said: "I didn't really think about those around me… the decision that I made in hindsight was the wrong decision and I'm truly sorry for everyone that I did affect."

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Syrians struggle with soaring prices as crisis challenges post-Assad recovery

Last month, protests erupted in squares and streets across Syria. People burned tyres, blocked roads and chanted slogans, angry at the government's decision to raise fuel prices again. It was the largest show of discontent yet since President Ahmed al-Sharaa came to power two years ago. Speaking on a Syrian TV channel, a man said he still supported the authorities but that his situation had deteriorated to the point where he could no longer afford to buy bread. "Honestly," another said, "we have begun to fear what kind of new decision each morning will bring".