WARNING: This story contains graphic and sensitive content.
Lauren Anne Dickason has been found guilty of murdering her three young children at their Timaru home in 2021.
At the High Court in Christchurch, the jury today reached a majority verdict (11-1) after deliberating for just over 14 hours in a four-week trial.
The 42-year-old woman had recently moved to New Zealand from South Africa with her husband Graham, who had started a job at the South Island hospital, and their daughters.
Mr Dickason had found the girls dead and his wife in a serious condition upon arriving home after a dinner with colleagues on September 16 in 2021.
The mother did not deny killing Liané, 6, and 2-year-old twins Maya and Karla in September 2021. But she pleaded not guilty to murder, claiming she was severely mentally disturbed at the time and did not know what she was doing was morally wrong.
Dickason had mounted a defence of insanity or infanticide, arguing that she should not be held criminally responsible. But the jury did not accept this.
Dickason stood in the dock calmly as she was convicted of three counts of murder this afternoon and was taken out of the room while Justice Cameron Mander discharged the jury of eight women and four men.
“This has been a difficult and a gruelling trial,” the judge told them.
“You’ve had to deal with distressing evidence, this trial has likely taken a toll on you personally. You have made a considerable sacrifice. Your contribution will remain unknown and largely unsung, you can take considerable pride in the way you have carried out your duties.”
As the jurors left court some broke down weeping.
Dickason’s parents sat in the public gallery calmly. Her mother stared at the floor.
As the hearing ended, Dickason’s lawyers both burst into tears.
Justice Mander said remanding Dickason in prison would be inappropriate at this time, given she was under a compulsory treatment order. He said he sought expert reports on her mental state and what sentence would be appropriate.
As Dickason was taken out of court for the last time after the trial, the triple murderer shook her head. She will be remanded at Hillmorton Hospital, a mental health facility, until sentencing.
Killer’s parents: ‘This was not our daughter’
Dickason’s parents Malcolm and Wendy Fawkes and the extended family released a statement to media after the verdict.
“Post-partum depression is a terrible thing, as has been shown by what happened to our family on 16 September 2021. This was not our daughter, but a debilitating mental illness which resulted in an awful tragedy, the details of which you are by now well aware.”
They said Liané, Karla and Maya were “taken from this life to another as a result of this crippling disease”.
“We would like to thank the people of New Zealand, South Africa and from around the world who have been so understanding of the effects of post- partum depression and mental illness, and who have given us incredible support.
“The New Zealand Government agencies who have interacted with our family have reached out to us in a most generous and compassionate way. We thank the good people of New Zealand for that.”
They said there are “no winners in this tragedy”.
“We would like to encourage families and individuals around the world to be aware of the symptoms of post-partum depression as early as possible, both for yourselves as well as close family and friends around you.
“If treated early and managed correctly, people can experience a full recovery. The person experiencing depression and those closest to them may not be able to recognise the signs or how serious post-partum depression can become.”
In a statement today, Detective Inspector Scott Anderson said: "Words cannot begin to express the tragic circumstances of this investigation. Police extend our deepest sympathies to the families who will never get to see Liané, Maya, and Karla grow up and live their lives.
“I would like to acknowledge the Dickason and Fawkes families who have assisted us throughout our investigation,” Anderson said.
“I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our investigation team.”
Anderson said the investigation had been challenging and complex.
“Right from attending the scene on the night, to the completion of the trial, and through it all our staff have worked diligently with professionalism and empathy to bring this matter to its conclusion.
“Our heartfelt thanks also to the Timaru community and partner agencies who have continued to provide support to the families during this case.”
Majority verdict
The jury had been deliberating since 1.55pm on Monday, when they immediately requested to re-watch the video of Dickason’s police interview, conducted the day after the alleged murders.
This afternoon, jurors indicated they had a question and returned to court soon after. Justice Mander was told the group had been unable to reach a unanimous verdict and asked for instruction. He told them that if they could not all agree - he would accept a majority verdict at this stage of deliberations.
In criminal cases, after a jury has deliberated for at least four hours and has not reached a unanimous verdict the judge may instruct them to consider a majority verdict.
A majority verdict is a verdict agreed to by all except one juror and can only occur if the foreperson states in open court there is no probability of the jury reaching a unanimous verdict, as the Juries Act stipulates.
“It is possible for you to deliver a verdict that 11 of you agree on... if only one of your number is in disagreement... then you may proceed to verdict. You should keep trying to reach unanimity until it is not likely for that to happen.”
Judge's summary
Justice Mander appreciated much of what he had to cover would be repetitive however he was "obliged to ensure" the jury understood the case against Dickason and her defence.
He reminded the jury it was up to them, and them alone, as to what evidence they accepted and rejected.
"At the end of the day your assessment of the evidence is for you," he said.
"It is up to you as to how you assess it... it’s for you to judge. You need to take into account the evidence as a whole... does it make sense, does it ring true? You must reach your decision without feelings of prejudice or sympathy… it is inevitable such feelings are engendered in a case involving three little children.
"You must set aside your emotions and go about your task dispassionately. You must judge the defendant without fear or favour - feelings of sympathy for the three children, Mrs Dickason, Mr Dickason and their families… must be put to one side.
"An entirely human response to three little girls being killed is outrage and horror - but you must put those reactions and feelings to one side in order to carry out your task in the analytical way that is required of you; to make sure your verdicts are based on the law and the evidence."
Justice Mander said the jury must ignore any media reports or comments made to them by anyone outside their number about the case.
He said they must return verdicts based on their assessment of the evidence alone and urged them to "be on your guard" and not allow any irrelevant information or outside influence to colour their thinking.
"Mrs Dickason is innocent until proven guilty," he said.
"It is for the Crown to prove the charge of murder and to negate the defence of infanticide… there is no onus on the defendant to prove or disprove insanity… or infanticide.
"You must be brought to the point that you can say ‘I am sure the defendant is guilty’... has the Crown proved beyond a responsible doubt that… the children’s deaths were not an act of infanticide."
Justice Mander said there was no doubt Dickason killed the little girls and that she was very mentally unwell.
The jury must decide whether she was so disturbed that she cannot be held criminally culpable. Its verdict options were murder, the alternative charge or "partial defence" of infanticide or the full defence of insanity and Justice Mander spent much time talking them through each.
The Crown and defence cases
The Crown said Dickason murdered the children in a "calculated" way because she was frustrated, angry and resentful of them.
It acknowledged she suffered from sometimes-serious depression, but maintained she knew what she was doing when she killed the girls.
Opening the Crown case on July 1, McRae alleged Dickason was an angry and frustrated woman who was "resentful of how the children stood in the way of her relationship with her husband" and killed them "methodically and purposefully, perhaps even clinically".
The defence said Dickason was a severely mentally disturbed woman in the depths of postpartum depression and did not know the act of killing the children was morally wrong at the time of their deaths.
It said she was "in such a dark place" she had decided to kill herself and felt "it was the right thing to do" to "take the girls with her".
SUICIDE AND DEPRESSION
Where to get help:
• Lifeline: Call 0800 543 354 or text 4357 (HELP) (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Youth services: (06) 3555 906
• Youthline: Call 0800 376 633 or text 234
• What's Up: Call 0800 942 8787 (11am to 11pm) or webchat (11am to 10.30pm)
• Depression helpline: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202 (available 24/7)
• Helpline: Need to talk? Call or text 1737
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111
