The trial of the mother accused of murdering her three children in their Timaru home is underway in the High Court in Christchurch.
Lauren Dickason entered the dock at about 11am on Monday morning to face three counts of murdering her two-year-old twins, Maya and Karla and her six-year-old Liané in their Timaru home on September 16, 2021.
Dickason moved to Timaru from South Africa with her husband, orthopaedic surgeon Graham Dickason, and had only been in New Zealand for two weeks after a stint in MIQ when the alleged murders took place.
Her husband found the three children dead and his wife in a serious condition when he came home from dinner with colleagues.
The jury is currently being empanelled for the trial, which is set down for two weeks.
The tragedy first rocked the small town of Timaru and then the world.
It comes after it was revealed Dickason was going to use the defence of infanticide.
Infanticide is a rare crime, for a woman who causes the death of her child under the age of 10 because of a disturbed mind relating to childbirth or lactation.
"I imagine there won't be a lot of focus on the factual matters, of the homicides, the killings themselves because they are a given, the scrutiny will be on the competing views of the medical practitioners," lawyer Nigel Hampton KC told Newshub.
Dickason will use the defence of insanity but also infanticide - which is a rare and historic charge that is rarely seen in the courts here.
The Crimes Act defines it as: "Where at the time of the offence the balance of her mind was disturbed, by reason of her not having fully recovered from the effect of giving birth to that or any other child, or by reason of the effect of lactation."
It's almost never prosecuted as a crime in New Zealand.
"Again quite rarely, we see infanticide used as a defence, a partial defence to murder or manslaughter," Hampton said.
The case will shine a light on perinatal mental health.
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 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
- 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
