SA mother allegedly strangled children with cable ties

The three daughters of a South African couple who were killed in New Zealand on Thursday last week were allegedly strangled with cable ties, according to a City Press report. Dr Lauren Dickason, the mother of Liane (6) and two-year-old twins Maya and Karla, appeared at the Timaru District Court at the weekend in connection with the death of the children. Shew was ordered to be taken to a mental health facility for observation. Lauren, her husband, Graham, and the children recently emigrated to New Zealand. Graham is an orthopaedic surgeon and Lauren is a general practitioner. Lauren allegedly strangled her three daughters with cable ties on Thursday night at their home in Timaru. A former colleague of Graham, also a doctor, says Lauren previously used chronic medication, but she stopped it for fear that it would hinder their application to emigrate. Due to New Zealand’s strict selection requirements for prospective immigrants, it could count against you if you use chronic medication for certain conditions. The process of being admitted to New Zealand was suspenseful, said the former colleague. ‘The immigration process to New Zealand is extremely traumatic. I understand the place where the Dickason family had to spend their quarantine was basically like in a prison. You don’t see anyone, your food is delivered to your door and you are only let out for about an hour a day.’ The person said that a combination of stress and the fact that Lauren could not use her medication may have made coping difficult for her. The condition Lauren suffers from was not explained.