Despite Lauren Dickason’s defence team arguing that she suffered a serious depressive episode when her three children were murdered, an expert said her depression “was always there”, and had been present since her teens.
The New Zealand High Court heard more evidence this week from forensic psychiatrist Erik Monasterio, who had assessed Dickason after she killed her children.
Dickason is accused of murder after strangling and smothering six-year-old Liané and two-year-old twins Maya and Karla on 16 September 2021 while her husband, Graham, was out for dinner with colleagues.
Monasterio said Dickason's depression could be traced back to her teenage years and could not be attributed to postpartum depression, as it was already present before she gave birth, reports News24.
He said there was no evidence she was experiencing psychosis or delusions at the time of the killings, that she was depressed, but her condition did not meet the threshold for insanity, and that this meant there was no evidence to support her defence.
Defence lawyer Anne Toohey questioned Monasterio’s finding that it appeared Dickason’s depression symptoms had remitted from March 2021.
He said this was based on Dickason’s self-reporting, her husband’s reporting and other sources.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Dickason’s mother testifies in New Zealand murder trial
Dickason tragedy: Mom’s mental evaluation to take up to 18 months
Dickason tragedy: Further mental observation and trial date