SA immigrant sentenced in New Zealand

Lauren Dickason, a South African immigrant, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for murdering her three young daughters in New Zealand in 2021.

She will serve her sentence at a mental health hospital in state custody. Dickason expressed remorse for her actions, acknowledging the pain she caused her family. The killings occurred in September 2021 when her husband was away, and the family had recently moved to New Zealand.

During the trial, Dickason claimed insanity and infanticide due to stress. New Zealand law recognizes infanticide as a defense when the mother’s mental state is disturbed at the time of the offense.