She had spent over a decade fighting to have children. In September 2021, while her husband was out for the evening, she killed all three of her daughters.
Background
Lauren Dickason, 42, and her husband, Graham, had recently relocated from South Africa to Timaru, New Zealand, with their three young daughters: six-year-old Liane and two-year-old twins, Maya and Karla. The family's path to having children had been difficult, involving IVF treatment and the earlier loss of a pregnancy at 18 weeks.
The Deaths
In September 2021, while Graham was at a work dinner, Dickason killed all three girls. He returned home to find them dead and his wife unconscious, having attempted to take her own life.
The Trial
Dickason admitted to killing her daughters but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Her trial in Christchurch's High Court examined an 11-year history of depression connected to her fertility struggles, including chronic postnatal depression following the birth of each child, which clinical psychologist Dr. Ghazi Metoui testified had never fully resolved between pregnancies. Dr. Metoui told the court that, in his clinical opinion, Dickason met the legal threshold for an insanity defense, testifying that while she acted with deliberate intent, her severe depression distorted her thinking to the point that she did not understand her actions were morally wrong by ordinary standards.
Prosecutors argued the killings were calculated, alleging Dickason acted out of resentment toward how her daughters affected her marriage, rather than from an inability to distinguish right from wrong. The prosecution and defense presented competing expert testimony, with a majority of the psychiatric experts who evaluated her supporting the defense's position that she was driven by severe mental illness rather than malice.
Editorial Note on Case Status
This entry reflects reporting from during the trial, before a verdict was reached. Please confirm and add the final verdict and sentencing outcome before publishing.
FAQ
Did Lauren Dickason deny killing her daughters?
No. She admitted to the killings but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
What mental health history did the trial examine?
An 11-year history of depression connected to fertility struggles, including a pregnancy loss and postnatal depression following each daughter's birth.
What was the final verdict?
This should be confirmed before publishing — the available information here only covers the trial proceedings, not a final outcome.