A woman accused of murdering her three children has appeared in Christchurch High Court for the first time since her arrest.
Lauren Dickason allegedly killed her six-year-old daughter Liane and two-year-old twins Maya and Kayla at their Timaru home in September 2021.
During Friday’s hearing, Dickason sat quietly in the dock with a support person before Justice Rob Osborne.
Dickason's lawyer Kerryn Beaton KC confirmed her client will use a defence of insanity and infanticide at next month's trial.
Dickason's first hearing took place in Timaru on September 18, 2021, she had subsequently been excused from all other court appearances.
In August 2021, Dickason's family, including her husband Graham, had recently completed managed isolation after moving from South Africa. They later moved to settle in Timaru.
On September 16, 2021 Graham, who is an orthopaedic surgeon, returned to his Timaru home at around 10pm to find his children dead.
Dickason was taken to Timaru Hospital where she was later charged with murder. Graham has since returned to South Africa.
The case has been transferred to Christchurch, Dickason is remanded in custody at Christchurch’s Hillmorton Hospital, until her next callover on June 20.
The jury trial is scheduled to begin on July 17, 2023 and is set down for two weeks.
