Lauren Dickason found guilty of murdering her three children

The jury reached a majority verdict today, having deliberated since Monday.

Dickason admitted killing daughters 6-year-old Liane and 2-year-old twins Maya and Karla at the Timaru home she shared with husband Graham Dickason on September 16, 2021. The family had recently moved to New Zealand from South Africa.

Dickason 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 – and that she should not be held criminally responsible – a plea of insanity. At trial she had also raised the defence of infanticide, which if successful would have diminshed her criminal responsibility. The jury rejected those arguments.

A sentencing date will be set later this year. As Dickason is under a Mental Health Act Compulsory Treatment Order, she was not remanded in custody.

Statement of Detective Inspector Scott Anderson following verdict

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.

I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our investigation team.

This has been a challenging and complex investigation 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.

Police have no further comment to make.

Statement of Lauren Dickason’s parents, Malcolm and Wendy Fawkes

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.

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.

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.