In July 17, 2023, the trial of South African doctor Lauren Dickason (41) began in Christchurch, New Zealand. Dickason stands accused of brutally murdering her three young children: six-year-old Liané and her two-year-old twin sisters, Maya and Karla, on September 16, 2021. The allegations against her are shocking and gruesome.
Allegations of Murder
Prosecutor Andrew McRae has alleged that Lauren Dickason strangled and smothered her children while her husband, Graham, was dining with colleagues. The prosecution claims that she used cable ties to suffocate the children, resorting to blankets when her initial method failed.
Evidence of Anger and Resentment
The prosecution revealed that Dickason had expressed anger and resentment towards her children in messages to friends before the alleged murders. In those messages, she reportedly talked about “smacking,” “suffocating,” and “murdering” her children.
Mental Health Struggles and Challenges with Fertility
Dickason’s mental health struggles and difficulties with fertility are important aspects of the case. She had undergone multiple rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and a miscarriage, which made her journey to motherhood very difficult. Postpartum, she suffered from mental health problems and allegedly conducted online searches about overdosing children while still in South Africa.
The Family’s Migration to New Zealand
The family’s migration to New Zealand added further complications to Lauren’s mental state. She reportedly stopped taking her medication to comply with the country’s stringent immigration requirements, which made her already fragile mental state worse.
The Prosecution’s Case
Despite the defense’s plea of temporary insanity and infanticide, the prosecution argues that Lauren’s actions were deliberate and calculated. McRae recounted the chilling night when she lured her children with the promise of making “necklaces” using cable ties, only to smother them with blankets when her initial plan failed. After hiding their bodies beneath bed covers, Lauren attempted suicide with a combination of a knife and an overdose of drugs.
The Husband’s Testimony
Graham Dickason will provide his testimony from South Africa, where he currently resides. His testimony is expected to shed more light on the events of that fateful night.
The trial of Lauren Dickason has shocked and saddened the public. The enormity of the crime she is accused of defies comprehension. As the trial progresses, the public anxiously awaits answers to the many questions surrounding this tragic case.
