Lauren Dickason, a former general practitioner from South Africa, is set to face trial in July for the alleged killing of her three daughters shortly after their family’s relocation to New Zealand.
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Currently held in custody at a psychiatric unit, Dickason made a brief appearance at the Christchurch High Court yesterday, 1 June 2023, marking her first public appearance since her arrest, according to reports from New Zealand media.
Dickason was arrested in September 2021 after the bodies of twin girls Maya and Karla (2) and their older sister Liane (6) were discovered in the Timaru home by their father, Dr Graham Dickason, upon returning home from a dinner with colleagues.
He found their three children deceased and his wife in a serious condition.
According to reports from the New Zealand Herald, Lauren Dickason’s legal team plans to present three expert witnesses during the trial who will support a defence of temporary insanity and infanticide. In contrast, the prosecution intends to call upon an expert who holds an opposing opinion on the matter.
Insight into the investigation suggests that the mother of the deceased was off of her chronic medication to meet the country’s strict immigration criteria.
The Dickason family had recently emigrated to New Zealand from South Africa and had been in the town for only two weeks after completing a mandatory isolation period. It was during this time that the children’s deaths occurred.
Lauren Dickason made her initial appearance at the Timaru District Court two days after the alleged murders. Following this, she was remanded in custody and transferred to the medium secure psychiatric unit at Hillmorton Hospital in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Graeme Dickason has since returned to live in South Africa. According to reports from New Zealand media, an application for Graeme to provide testimony in the trial via audiovisual link was contested by the defence.
The trial has been scheduled for a two-week duration, commencing on 17 July 2023.
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Picture: Facebook