Lauren Dickason: Mother accused of murdering daughters to undergo psychiatric evaluation

Lauren Dickason, the South African woman accused and charged with murdering her three young daughters, appeared before the Timaru District Court, in Canterbury, New Zealand, on Saturday, 18 September. The 40-year-old doctor did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody.

DICKASON APPEARS BEFORE TIMARU COURT

Dickason is charged with killing her twin daughters, aged two and their older sister, aged seven. Her husband, Graham, came home and found the children’s bodies on Thursday night. Dickason was arrested and charged with the murder the next day – after initially being kept at a nearby hospital.

Judge Dominic Dravitzki remanded Dickason to the Hillmorton Hospital in Christchurch for a mental psychiatric assessment, according to Stuff. Dravitzki suppressed some of the details of the alleged murders. A local psychiatrist reportedly told the court that remanding the accused to prison would be inappropriate. Dickason did not enter a plea during her court appearance.

After her psychiatric assessment, Dickason is expected to appear before the Timaru High Court on 5 October.

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The Dickason family recently arrived in New Zealand and left compulsory isolation last week. The children were allegedly murdered at a home in Timaru that is routinely used to house staff from the nearby hospital, where Graham worked as an orthopaedic surgeon.

The New Zealand Police said a crime scene examination would continue at the Queen Street address on Saturday. Members of the South African community in the country left flowers and a soft toy, along with supportive messages, near the property, according to Radio New Zealand.