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Disturbing details have emerged regarding the actions of South African doctor Lauren Dickason (41) who stands accused of killing her three children.
Dickason appeared for the start of her trial at the High Court in Christchurch, New Zealand, today, 17 July 2023.
Also read: Lauren Dickason, accused of murdering her children, will plead insanity
On 16 September 2021, while her husband, Graham Dickason, was having dinner with coworkers, she is accused of strangling and smothering her six-year-old daughter Liané, as well as her two-year-old twins, Maya and Karla.
As per a report by the New Zealand publication Stuff, prosecutor Andrew McRae stated on the initial day of the court proceedings that the children were suffocated using cable ties fastened around their necks. When this method proved unsuccessful, Lauren resorted to smothering them with blankets, before trying to take her own life with an overdose of drugs.
According to court proceedings, it was revealed that Dickason had made online searches while still in South Africa on how to overdose children.
McRae said that Dickason ‘harboured anger and resentment towards them’, even sending messages to friends saying she wanted to ‘smack’, ‘suffocate’ and ‘murder’ her children.
Dickason is pleading a defence of temporary insanity and infanticide.
The court heard that Lauren faced challenges in conceiving and had undergone multiple cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Before the birth of Liané, she had experienced a miscarriage. Following Liané’s birth, Lauren reportedly struggled with her mental health. During another round of IVF, she became pregnant with the twins. Leading up to their move to New Zealand, Lauren struggled with her mental health once again.
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.
McRae argued that Dickason’s actions were driven by anger, and were calculated and deliberate.
‘On the fateful night, Dickason retrieved cable ties from the garage after the children had been misbehaving,’ McRae said.
‘She told them they were going to make necklaces and placed cable ties around their necks.
‘Realizing they were going to be insufficient, she then smothered the children. She killed Karla first, then six-year-old Liané, then Maya.
‘Dickason placed their bodies in the beds and covered them with bedding, then attempted to take her own life with the mix of a knife and an overdose of drugs.’
Upon returning home, Graham Dickason was confronted with a distressing sight. He found his wife in the kitchen, exhibiting unusual behaviour and appearing unsteady on her feet. Concerned, he asked her if everything was alright, as relayed by McRae.
Dickason did not respond immediately and eventually uttered words suggesting that it was ‘too late,’ causing Graham to realise that something was wrong.
Graham first approached Liané, who had a pale complexion and a cable tie around her neck. He then checked on the twins and discovered the same distressing scene. Using scissors, he removed the cable ties and listened for any signs of a heartbeat or breathing but could not find any.
He reached out to a colleague he had been dining with earlier in the evening and urgently sought assistance. Shortly after, emergency services were contacted.
Graham Dickason will provide his testimony from South Africa when the trial resumes on Tuesday, 18 July 2023.
Also read:
Father of three young girls who were murdered says he forgives his wife
Picture: Facebook