Dickason’s questioned status delays sentence
Whether Lauren Dickason should be detained in a mental health facility or a prison has caused her sentencing to be delayed again.
The South African doctor was found guilty by a jury of murdering her twin daughters, Maya and Karla, 2, and their older sister Liané, 6, on the night of September 16, 2021, in Timaru.
The 43-year-old is in custody at Christchurch’s Hillmorton Hospital awaiting sentencing.
That sentencing hearing has been adjourned at least twice since it was first due to be held on December 19, and has now been set down for June 26.
Psychiatrists’ reports as to whether Dickason should be detained under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 as a special patient, or serve her sentence in prison, have caused the delays, it has been confirmed.
Dickason will be sentenced to a term of imprisonment regardless of the reports. Where she serves the sentence and how long for is in question.
“The delay to date is regrettable but the issues to which this case gives rise need to be approached with care,” a minute from Justice Cameron Mander released to ThePress yesterday said.
A conference of experts has been slated to take place on March 20 in place of the nominal sentencing date. Lawyers for both the Crown and Dickason were agreed that clarification of the psychiatrists’ views to date would be best obtained this way.
A new sentencing date of June 26 was confirmed by Justice Mander. Dickason has been remanded in Hillmorton Hospital until that date.
“It is noted that should, during the period of this remand, it be considered appropriate to transfer Mrs Dickason to another secure facility the present order can be amended to accommodate that change,” the minute said.
Dickason had previously been remanded for psychiatric assessment at Justice Mander’s request to address the type and length of her sentence.
Whether she should be classified as a special patient and/or receive compulsory treatment was not addressed at this time.
Psychiatrists’ specific opinions as to Dickason’s detention, and some other aspects of her status, have been suppressed.