The 40-year-old mother charged with the murder of her three daughters in Timaru on Thursday night has been remanded for a psychiatric assessment.
Lauren Dickason, 40, a medical practitioner appeared before Judge Dominic Dravitzki in the Timaru District Court at 10am on Saturday, Stuff reported.
“Escorted by two police officers, Dickason arrived in court dressed in a hooded sweatshirt and black trousers. Dickason looked calm and kept her arms folded close to her chest. She stared at the floor for much of her appearance”, it said.
The accused didn’t enter a plea during her appearance. She is to appear in court again on 5 October.
There was no application for bail and she faces three charges of murder. An application for name suppression was withdrawn during the hearing.
The family had recently completed MIQ after arriving from South Africa and had settled in the South Island town.
Graham Dickason, an orthopedic surgeon, found his children dead when he returned to their Queen St home.
He had recently started working for the South Canterbury District Health Board.
