Warning: This story contains evidence from the trial which some readers may find extremely upsetting.
Teachers of the three little girls killed by their mother sobbed in court as they described the "happy" and "lovely" children whose lives were tragically cut short.
Lauren Dickason is accused of murdering her little girls - 6-year-old Liané and 2-year-old twins Maya and Karla - at their Timaru home on September 16, 2021.
The Crown is alleging Lauren is guilty of murder, saying she was aware of her actions before, during and after the crime.
However, the defence is arguing insanity and infanticide.
The trial has continued for a fifth day at the High Court in Christchurch in front of a jury of eight women and four men.
'Happy', 'confident', 'lovely' children
In an emotional day at court, teachers of the Dickason children have described the llittle girls as "happy" and "lovely".
The children had only been at school and preschool for a matter of days before their lives were tragically cut short.
As a teacher spoke about 6-year-old Liané he had to take momentary pauses, becoming overwhelmed with emotion when he remembered the newest member of their school.
Grant Phillips, who was the acting principal at Timaru Christian School when the family arrived, appeared composed as he took to the stand on the fifth day of the trial. But the first time he mentioned Liané, tears welled in his eyes.
He described the little girl as "happy" while her school teacher told the court she was "very confident" and getting involved in class.
Phillips first saw the family over a Zoom video call while they still lived in South Africa. He remembered Liané drew him a picture and held it up to the camera to show him.
At times, he struggled through his evidence, weeping when he remembered meeting the children for the first time.
When the family arrived in Timaru, Phillips and his wife met the Dickasons at their home on Tuesday, September 14 to drop off a food parcel.
Phillips recalled children's books scattered across the lounge floor. He said Lauren was reading books to the twins on either side of her.
"She [Lauren] implied that the last two weeks had been rough," Phillips said. "She said she was scared… She was looking a bit drawn and had lost weight. She said she had lost 10kgs in the last two months because of the stress."
The three prayed together before Graham got home, looking to him for strength as the family embarked on their new journey.
Graham "lit up the room" when he arrived, Phillips said. The girls ran to him screaming "dad's home".
The last time Phillips saw the Dickasons was on September 16 - the same day Lauren killed her children.
He spoke to Lauren for a few minutes in the carpark at the end of the school day.
"It was normal, the same as the other interactions, the same demeanor in talking," Phillips told the court.
"There were no issues."
The centre supervisor for the preschool the twins attended on the day they were violently killed said the Dickasons were a "lovely family" and nothing stood out about them.
Bronwyn Davies' statement was read to the court by Crown prosecutor Andrew McRae.
She said nothing stood out about the family and the children were lovely.
Davies described how the twins had their hair done nicely, had advance social skills for their age and didn't squabble. She said their bags and lunch boxes were "immaculate".
The twins were taken by the preschool's pet bird and fish and enjoyed eating fruit.
"The children played really nicely," she said.
"Nothing stood out with the first interaction of the family. I just thought they were a lovely family. The children all got on lovely… we certainly would've picked up if something was amiss," Davies' statement said.
"They just seemed to be a new immigrant family with all the normal stresses that come with that."
Lauren's texts revealed
Messages in the years leading up to that tragic day were read in court, giving an insight into Lauren's thoughts and feelings.
A total of 910 messages taken from Lauren's iPhone were begun to be read out in court on Friday. They included WhatsApp, SMS and Facebook messages she had with her husband Graham, family and friends back in South Africa, and those she met in Timaru.
The messages range from September 2016 to hours before Lauren killed her children.
They show Lauren's struggle with her mental health and being a mother. Some of them detailed times she felt like hurting her children.
They include:
- "I am going to start Liane on augmentin tonight. She kept me awake until 3am this morning but I sent her to school otherwise I would strangle her. She moans all the f***ing time."
- "I need help with learning to cope with motherhood… I get overwhelmed so easily and the anxiety gets so bad I cannot eat, sleep or function properly. I think most of it is caused by frustration and boredom as I look after the babies during the day and I feel as though I have no identity of my own."
- "We are a strong couple and have been married for 14 years but three kids has really killed all the passion and a lot of the happiness."
- "I hate what lockdown is doing to me as a mum. I screamed so hard at all three kids today they all started crying… Now Liané is scared of me."
- "I almost called you because I was suicidal. Please don't tell Graham."
However, some of the messages read in court were positive, as Lauren talked about being excited to move to New Zealand and her love for her family.
Where to find help and support:
- Shine (domestic violence) - 0508 744 633
- Women's Refuge - 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE)
- Need to Talk? - Call or text 1737
- What's Up - 0800 WHATS UP (0800 942 8787)
- Lifeline - 0800 543 354
- Youthline - 0800 376 633, text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
- Samaritans - 0800 726 666
- Depression Helpline - 0800 111 757
- Suicide Crisis Helpline - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
- Shakti Community Council - 0800 742 584
