IT TOOK them more than 14 hours to reach a verdict – and even then they weren’t all in agreement. It was clear this jury had a tough task and some were moved to tears as they left the courtroom where they had to decide the fate of the woman who had killed her three young children.
In the end they turned to Justice Cameron Mander for instruction and he told them to deliver a majority verdict. And so the eight women and four men did: 11-1 found Lauren Dickason guilty of three counts of murder.
In all his time as a lawyer he’s never seen members of a jury cry, Dr James Mehigan, a legal expert in New Zealand, tells YOU. “They didn’t come to this decision quickly and discussed it for a long time.”
Dickason (42) was calm and quiet as she was found guilty of murdering six-year-old Liané and two-year-old twins Maya and Karla but cried as she was escorted out of court.
Her defence team, Kerryn Beaton and Anne Toohey, wept too when the verdict was delivered at the end of a trial that lasted nearly five weeks.
The date for her sentencing hasn’t yet been decided and it’s impossible to predict what kind of punishment she’ll get, Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland law professor Julia Tolmie told the New Zealand Herald. It depends on “how compassionate the judge is” given her mental-health problems.
Dickason’s parents, Malcolm and Wendy Fawkes, believe the “crippling disease” of post-partum depression is what killed their grandchildren. “There are no winners in this tragedy,” they said in a statement.
This story is from the 31 August 2023 edition of YOU South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the 31 August 2023 edition of YOU South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
IT'S ALL ABOUT FAMILY
Lynn and Kairo Forbes invite us into their home as they prepare for their second Christmas without AKA
DENZEL'S DECADE OF SOBRIETY
Expensive wine was his weakness but these days the legendary Hollywood actor is all about clean living
WE DID IT FOR YOU, DAD
It was a dream come true for Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse when they ran out together for the Boks – but it was bittersweet too
HIP-HOPPING ALONG!
Moo Deng, the adorable pygmy hippo, is about to become an even bigger star thanks to a catchy new song released in her honour
IAM NO DIFFERENT
Despite being born without legs, Kanya Sesser truimphs at anything she sets her mind to
OUR WONDERFUL, WEIRD WORLD
Bizarre and beautiful spots exist off the well-worn tourist paths that criss-cross our precious planet
GOD'S INFLUENCER
After Carlo Acutis died at age 15, he was credited with performing miracles. Now the Italian is about to be canonised as the Catholic Church's first millennial saint. But what did the seemingly ordinary teenager do that was so special?
RUCK ON!
Rucking walking with a weighted rucksack - has gained popularity once again for its ability to improve your heart health, increase your strength and burn kilojoules fast
MY KIDNEY FOR MY SON
This Cape Town mom is determined to lose 50kg so she can give her boy the gift of life
A WHOLE NEW WORLD
She's been deaf since she.was a baby but now Chermelle ;s slowly startmg to hear thanks to a Cochlear Implant
