Former Pretoria doctor Lauren Dickason, charged with murdering her three daughters soon after the family’s arrival in New Zealand last year where they planned to start a new life, was excused from last week’s court appearance so that her mental health assessments could continue.
A trial date has been set but she is yet to enter a plea, reports The New Zealand Herald.
Lauren Anne Dickason (40) charged with murdering her daughters Liané(6) and twin sisters Maya and Karla (2) first appeared in the Timaru District Court on 18 September, two days after the tragedy.
She was remanded in custody to a forensic psychiatric ward at Hillmorton Hospital in Christchurch where she underwent a mental health assessment before her first expected appearance in the High Court last week.
However, her appearance in person before Justice Rachel Dunningham was excused.
She was due to appear via an audio visual link from the hospital but the court heard more time was needed for her health assessment.
Dickason’s lawyer, Kerryn Beaton QC, sought a further remand for the alleged killer at Hillmorton Hospital. Her case will be called again on 15 October.
New start, tragic ending
The Dickason family arrived in Timaru just a week before the children died on 16 September.
They had moved from Pretoria and spent their mandatory time in managed isolation before they were released to start their new life.
Graham Dickason is an orthopaedic surgeon and had a job with the South Canterbury District Health Board. He had been at a work function with colleagues before arriving home to find the grisly scene, and his wife in a critical condition and unresponsive.
She was taken to Timaru Hospital and later charged with murder.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Dickason tragedy: Mom’s mental evaluation to take up to 18 months
Dickason tragedy: Further mental observation and trial date
Tragic end to Pretoria medical family’s new life New Zealand