A New Zealand jury has delivered a guilty verdict against a mother who killed her three young daughters. The jury rejected her defense that she was mentally ill at the time and not responsible for her actions. Lauren Dickason admitted to killing her 2-year-old twin daughters, Maya and Karla, as well as their 6-year-old sister, Lianè, nearly two years ago.
Lauren Dickason, a 42-year-old mother from New Zealand, pleaded not guilty due to severe depression linked to postpartum depression. Despite her plea, prosecutors argued that her actions were driven by anger and resentment. The trial, which lasted four weeks, concluded with the jury voting 11-1 for conviction.
Dickason and her husband, Graham Dickason, had recently moved from South Africa to New Zealand in search of a more stable lifestyle. They settled in Timaru just days before the tragic incident. The court heard that Dickason first attempted to kill her children using zip ties before suffocating them with pillows. She then placed their lifeless bodies under the covers of their beds and attempted to take her own life.
Graham Dickason, an orthopedic surgeon, returned from a work dinner to discover the devastating scene. He later revealed to the police that he was aware of his wife’s struggles with mental health and motherhood but had no inkling that she was capable of such a horrific act.
The guilty verdicts on three counts of murder were delivered after three days of deliberation by the jury. Lauren Dickason now faces a potential sentence of life imprisonment. As the verdict was read out in the Christchurch High Court, Dickason remained motionless in the dock but cried quietly as she left. Jurors could also be heard crying, reflecting the emotional toll of the case.
In response to the verdict, Dickason’s parents issued a statement attributing the deaths to their daughter’s debilitating mental illness. They urged families and individuals worldwide to be vigilant about recognizing the symptoms of postpartum depression early on.