Lauren Dickason, convicted of killing her three children in New Zealand, expresses horror at her actions as she is sentenced to 18 years in a mental health facility.
Bollywood Fever: A mother who killed her three children by smothering them with a pillow while mentally disturbed has been sentenced to 18 years in a mental health facility. Lauren Dickason, 41, was convicted last August for the murders of her six-year-old daughter Liané and two-year-old twins Maya and Karla. The tragic incident occurred on September 16, 2021, in Timaru, New Zealand.
Dickason, who had recently moved from South Africa with her family, initially told her daughters they were going to make necklaces. She then attempted to kill them with zip ties before ultimately suffocating them with a pillow. After the murders, she tried to take her own life.
During her trial last year, Dickason claimed she was suffering from severe post-natal depression. Despite this, a jury convicted her of murder. On Wednesday, Justice Cameron Mander sentenced her to 18 years, with the stipulation that she be detained in a mental health facility until she is well enough to be moved to prison. She will be eligible for parole after six years.
The High Court in Christchurch heard a statement from Dickason, read by her lawyers, in which she expressed deep remorse for her actions and the pain she caused to her husband, Graham, and their families. “I loved Liané, Maya, and Karla with all my heart. I failed them, I failed Graham, and I failed our families,” the statement read. “I take responsibility for taking our three beautiful girls from this world. No apology will ever be enough, and words will seem hollow to many.”
Dickason added, “I want people to know our girls brought me so much joy and were the center of my world. I am horrified by my actions and the pain, distress, and trauma I have caused everyone who loved them. Like many others, I miss them every single day.”
During the trial, defense counsel Kerryn Beaton KC argued that Dickason was suffering from a major depressive episode at the time of the murders and had been tormented by thoughts of harming herself and her children. “Lauren had told her husband in 2019 and 2021 that she had thoughts of harming her children,” said Ms. Beaton. “She was scared of those thoughts and feelings … and sought help.”
The case has deeply shaken the community, highlighting the severe impact of mental health issues and the importance of seeking help and support.
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