1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:03,440 Speaker 1: This episode of A Moment in Crime is about the 2 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: murder of three young children by their mother. Their deaths 3 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: are outlined in detail. The episode also traverses the offender's 4 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: extensive mental health issues, fertility and miscarriage and self harm, 5 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:19,119 Speaker 1: and it's intended for a mature audience. If you are 6 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 1: struggling or you're worried about a loved one, please see 7 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: the show notes for crisis help and support information. September sixteenth, 8 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one, nine forty pm, Graham Dickerson pulls into 9 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:38,840 Speaker 1: the shared driveway at seventeen Queen Street and Timaru, making 10 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: his way to the third and final house. He parks, 11 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: steps out of the vehicle and goes to the front door. 12 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: The orthopedic surgeon has been out at a work event 13 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:52,239 Speaker 1: and is looking forward to seeing his wife, Lauren and children, 14 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 1: six year old Leonae and two year old. 15 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 2: Twins Karla and Mayer. 16 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: The family have been in Timadoo just six days after 17 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:04,959 Speaker 1: a stressful immigration from South Africa, which included, thanks to 18 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: the global COVID pandemic, a mandatory two weeks and managed 19 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 1: isolation at an Auckland hotel. But Graham felt like his 20 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 1: family was beginning to settle. The twins had started preschool 21 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 1: that day, and Leone at a local primary school earlier 22 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:23,760 Speaker 1: in the week. Graham unlocked the front door and went inside. 23 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:27,840 Speaker 2: He took off his shoes. The house was quiet. 24 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 1: He walked to the open planned living room and saw 25 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 1: Lauren standing in the kitchen. She looked strange, wobbly, he thought. 26 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 1: He asked her what the matter was, and she mumbled 27 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: three words, it's too late. Graham suspected his wife was 28 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 1: under the influence of some kind of substance. Then he 29 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: realized something was very, very wrong and rushed to check 30 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 1: on his children. He ran up the hallway and into 31 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 1: Leone's bedroom. 32 00:01:57,520 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 2: She was lying in. 33 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 1: Bed, the covers pulled up. She was lifeless. Graham raced 34 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 1: to the twins bedroom. Both little girls were tucked into 35 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: their beds with their favorite soft toys. They were also dead. 36 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 1: Graham panicked. He didn't know what to do. He grabbed 37 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,399 Speaker 1: his phone, but couldn't think of what emergency number to call, 38 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: so he phoned a work colleague. Minutes later, Mark's Vatanich 39 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,079 Speaker 1: and his wife arrived at the Dickinson's home. Graham was 40 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 1: sitting outside, howling, screaming, and sobbing. 41 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 2: They're dead. He told the couple. 42 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 1: Mark called one on one and the operator told him 43 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: to keep everyone out of the house. He went and 44 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:43,919 Speaker 1: sat with his wife and a bereft Graham, How could 45 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 1: anyone do that? He was wailing. Constable William Turner arrived 46 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: at the house minutes later. He was authorized by a 47 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 1: senior officer to enter the house and see if anyone 48 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 1: inside needed medical assistance. He found Lauren Dickinson sprawled across 49 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:01,799 Speaker 1: the end of a scene bed in a children's bedroom, 50 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 1: alive but clearly very unwell. Then he found the little girls. 51 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: They were still pale, not breathing. He checked for signs 52 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 1: of life. Nothing. He contacted police comms and delivered the 53 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 1: news three dead at the scene. The horrifying scene Graham 54 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:30,839 Speaker 1: Dickerson walked into when he got home from work that night. 55 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 1: In twenty twenty one would lead to one of the 56 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: most controversial prosecutions in New Zealand history. Lauren and Dickinson 57 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 1: was charged with murdering the three little girls. After a 58 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: harrowing five week High Court trial, she was found guilty 59 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 1: on all three counts. Lauren was sentenced recently, marking the 60 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: end of the criminal court process. This case is easily 61 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: one of the biggest I have covered in my career 62 00:03:57,280 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: to date. The deaths of the children and the ten 63 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 1: they must have felt knowing their mother was taking their lives, 64 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 1: what led up to the murders, the tragedy of Lauren's 65 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: mental health, and the mist or ignored red flags, the 66 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: spotlight on depression, psychosis, insanity, and infanticide at the trial, 67 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: it was a case like no other. Over the next 68 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: two episodes of A Moment in Crime, I will tell 69 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: you the story of the Dickinson family. I'll tell you 70 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 1: how that family began, how it grew, and how it 71 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:30,039 Speaker 1: ended so abruptly in small town New Zealand. 72 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 2: And I'll speak to you about what. 73 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:34,480 Speaker 1: It was like reporting on this case for more than 74 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 1: two years. The episodes will be upsetting for some people, 75 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 1: but it is important to tell the story to explain 76 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: what happened to these little girls and why, And in 77 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,559 Speaker 1: my opinion, it's important you hear this story from someone 78 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:53,040 Speaker 1: who covered it from start to finish, who attended every 79 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 1: day of the trial and can give a full account 80 00:04:56,040 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: of the prosecution and defense cases. If this episode brings 81 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 1: up any issues for you, or you worried about a 82 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: loved one, colleague, or friend. Please see the show notes 83 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: for a list of crisis help and support agencies. You 84 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 1: can also find more about this case on enzied Herald 85 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 1: dot co dot nz. From the whodunits in cold cases 86 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: to the strange and quirky, crime is one of the 87 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 1: most fascinating corners of society and the news. From the 88 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: New Zealand Herald newsroom comes A Moment in Crime, a 89 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,720 Speaker 1: podcast delving into some of New Zealand's most high profile cases, 90 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 1: offenses and offenders. Each month, I'll take you inside some 91 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:40,919 Speaker 1: of our most infamous incidents, notorious offenders, and behind the 92 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 1: scenes of high profile trials and events to show you 93 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: what's really happening. 94 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 2: In your backyard. 95 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:57,479 Speaker 1: As police and paramedics converged on the Queen Street House 96 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: on September sixteenth and twenty twenty one, I was at 97 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: a work function with my colleague, visual journalist George Hurd. 98 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,039 Speaker 1: By ten thirty that night, we started getting information through 99 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 1: about a major incident in Timadoo, multiple people dead at 100 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:15,280 Speaker 1: a suburban house, a homicide investigation under way, police from 101 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: christ Church heading to the scene. We spoke to the 102 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,159 Speaker 1: duty editors and decided to head to Timadoo as early 103 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 1: as we could. The next morning, we were already on 104 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:28,799 Speaker 1: the road when police issued their first press release. Detective 105 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 1: Inspector Scott Anderson confirmed the triple homicide and that a 106 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: fourth person had been hospitalized. He said police is speaking 107 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 1: with people from the address and no one else is 108 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:42,479 Speaker 1: being sought at this time. Police are still in the 109 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:45,600 Speaker 1: very early stages of this inquiry and no further information 110 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: is available at this stage. Further information will be provided 111 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 1: as soon as it's available. While we traveled, colleagues in 112 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: the Herald newsroom made calls to residents on Queen Street 113 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 1: to see what more we could find out about what 114 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:02,719 Speaker 1: had happened in that house and who was involved. We 115 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,359 Speaker 1: learned that the three houses at seventeen Queen Street were 116 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: leased up to Timadoo Hospital used as accommodation for international surgeons, doctors, 117 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: nurses and their families. We learned that the family in 118 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 1: the back house hadn't been there long, maybe a week, 119 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: a couple. 120 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 2: And three little girls. 121 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 1: We were told that a man had been heard screaming, 122 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 1: wailing and crying at the property shortly before emergency services arrived, 123 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 1: that he had been taken away from the address in 124 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,559 Speaker 1: the back of a police car and an adult woman 125 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: transported in an ambulance. It became obvious that whatever had 126 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 1: happened in the house was a family harm incident. When 127 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: we arrived at Timadou, the house was cordoned off and 128 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 1: the police scene examination was just beginning. Specialist officers in 129 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 1: white boiler suits moved up and down the driveway and 130 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: in and out of the house. Police were tight lipped 131 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: about what had happened there. Investigators at the scene deferred 132 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: all questions to the police media team based in Wellington. 133 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 1: Even our sources and contacts were reluctant to give any 134 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: information up. We knew that whatever had happened at seventeen 135 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 1: B Queen Street involved a number of children. We knew 136 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: what police had found there was terrible, but we never 137 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 1: could have imagined how terrible. At one pm that day, 138 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: Detective Inspector Anderson fronted a press conference. 139 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 2: This is what he told us. 140 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 3: Police remain at a property in Queen Street, Timuru today. 141 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 3: After three people were located deceased at the property last night. 142 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 3: Police can now confirm that they ceased were children and siblings, 143 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 3: two aged three years and one aged seven. Emergency services 144 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 3: also located. A woman had been properly and she was 145 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 3: transported to Tibrol Hospital and it's in a stable condition. 146 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 3: Those involved had arrived in Timrou from South Africa in 147 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 3: the last week. The investigation into this tragedy is still 148 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 3: on its very really stayed. Though we can confirm that 149 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:05,320 Speaker 3: no one else speaks sought in relation to the deaths 150 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:08,439 Speaker 3: of the three children. Police are still working to notify 151 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 3: all ks of ken them for that reason and to 152 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 3: protect the privacy of those impected by this tragedy. At 153 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:19,199 Speaker 3: this stage of Prince will be racing through the details 154 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 3: regarding actors. 155 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,079 Speaker 1: To prevent the names being published. At that stage, a 156 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:27,320 Speaker 1: coroner made an order suppressing the details of the Dickerson family, 157 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 1: but by about six pm that order was no longer 158 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:32,880 Speaker 1: in place and the family at the center of the 159 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 1: tragedy could be named. From that moment on, the names 160 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: of Graham and Lauren Dickerson and their daughters leone six 161 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: and two year old twins Karla and Maya became known 162 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: across New Zealand and the world. I was given the 163 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:51,520 Speaker 1: names by a source. I'll never reveal who that person is, 164 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 1: but I can say that by the time they passed 165 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: the information on to me. Many people outside the investigation 166 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:01,840 Speaker 1: and the family knew who they were. People in the 167 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 1: Temuru community, Graham's workmates, dozens of police and emergency services personnel, 168 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 1: and neighbors. The source wanted to ensure the names, when published, 169 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 1: were reported accurately, that the spelling of the where girls 170 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:19,600 Speaker 1: names was right, and their ages, which police initially misreported. 171 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:24,200 Speaker 1: We didn't publish the names immediately, not until my police 172 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 1: contacts confirmed that the victim's immediate family had been told. 173 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 1: The coroner's office then confirmed the non publication order had 174 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 1: been lifted. We ran our story after that with the information. 175 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: We were not the first news outlet to publish the 176 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 1: names of the Dickinson family. I felt it was important 177 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:44,719 Speaker 1: to include this information as there has been a lot 178 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 1: of criticism over when and why the Dickinson's names were published. 179 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 1: In twenty twenty four, Lawrence's parents revealed their anger that 180 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:55,199 Speaker 1: the family was outed so soon, and some members of 181 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:59,560 Speaker 1: the community voiced similar opinions. I want to assure you 182 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 1: that in every case of tragedy, the decision on what 183 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:06,840 Speaker 1: information to publish and when is very considered by myself 184 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 1: and my editors. We certainly do not make these decisions 185 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:13,439 Speaker 1: with haste when it comes to child homicides. In this case, 186 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 1: we held off for more than half a day before 187 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 1: we ran any information identifying the family. At eight fifty 188 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:24,840 Speaker 1: two pm, another police release landed in my inbox. This 189 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 1: one was announcing that a forty year old woman had 190 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:30,559 Speaker 1: been arrested and charged with murder. She was scheduled to 191 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:34,440 Speaker 1: appear in the Timadoo District Court the next morning. Police 192 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 1: would like to reassure the community that this was a tragic, 193 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: isolated incident and we are not seeking anyone else. Scott 194 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 1: Anderson said. A scene examination will continue at the Queen 195 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:48,079 Speaker 1: Street address tomorrow. As this matter is now before the courts, 196 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 1: police will not be making any further comment. The next 197 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 1: morning we filed into the Timdoo District Court for the appearance. 198 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 1: We knew Lauren Dickinson was the person charged, but legally 199 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:01,839 Speaker 1: we couldn't report that until after she had appeared in court. 200 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 1: Three charge sheets were provided to the media, but offered 201 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:08,840 Speaker 1: little insight into what had happened to the children. They 202 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 1: simply listed three charges of murder, the accused name, and 203 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:16,440 Speaker 1: the details and date of the alleged crime. Just after 204 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 1: ten a m. Lauren was led into the dock from 205 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 1: the court seals. She stood with her arms crossed in 206 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 1: front of her and looked drawn and distressed as Judge 207 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 1: Dominic Dravitsky took his seat and began proceedings. Lauren did 208 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:32,840 Speaker 1: not speak during the hearing and only nodded briefly when 209 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:36,679 Speaker 1: engaging with the duty solicitor. No please were entered, and 210 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 1: her lawyer asked for name suppression, but after strong opposition 211 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: from the media on the basis of open justice extreme 212 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 1: public interest in the fact that her name had been 213 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:49,840 Speaker 1: widely published already, Lauren told her lawyer to withdraw the 214 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:54,040 Speaker 1: suppression application. Initially, it was planned for her to be 215 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 1: remanded to crash each women's prison, but a duty psychologist 216 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:00,680 Speaker 1: arrived at court late in the hearing and told Judge 217 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 1: Dravitsky that it was more appropriate for the accused mother 218 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: to be remanded to a specialist facility. Judge Dravitsky agreed 219 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:11,599 Speaker 1: to remind Lauren in custody, to the regional Secure forensic 220 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 1: mental health unit in Christchurch. He also made an order 221 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: prohibiting media from publishing the specific details of the girl's 222 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: debts in a bid to protect Graham Dickinson and the 223 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 1: Wider family. The method Lauren had used to kill the 224 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: girls was later reported widely by South African media and 225 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 1: became common knowledge in New Zealand thanks to the sharing 226 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: of that information across social media, but we at the 227 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 1: New Zealand Herald could not report the information until Lauren's 228 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:42,559 Speaker 1: trial almost two years later. 229 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 2: I'll take you through the. 230 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 1: Trial in part two of A Moment in Crime, the 231 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 1: Dickerson Family Tragedy. But first let's look at who the 232 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 1: Dickerson family were and how they got to New Zealand. 233 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 1: Lauren was born to Malcolm and Wendy Fawkes, the oldest 234 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: of three children. She grew up in Whitsbank, a small 235 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: city just over an hour east of Pretoria. She went 236 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:08,200 Speaker 1: to Pretoria Girls High School as a border and then 237 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 1: on to the University of Cape Town to study medicine. 238 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 1: When she was about fifteen, she was diagnosed with an 239 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 1: intermittent mood disorder and anxiety. She also had a propensity 240 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:24,400 Speaker 1: towards perfectionism and set high standards for herself. Lauren wasn't 241 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 1: a hugely popular girl and struggled with friendships, but things 242 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 1: began to look up for her after she graduated medical school. 243 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:34,320 Speaker 1: Soon after starting at a work placement at a rural 244 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 1: hospital in Pretoria, she met Graham Dickerson, who was undertaking 245 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 1: specialist orthopedic surgical training. During the early years of their relationship, 246 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 1: Lauren saw Graham as her rock and said he helped 247 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:51,040 Speaker 1: her to mostly overcome her depression and anxiety. The couple 248 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 1: married in May two thousand and six. From early on, 249 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:56,640 Speaker 1: Lauren's primary focus. 250 00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 2: Was to have children. 251 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 1: She worked for about six years before giving it up 252 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: to start a family. However, the couple had difficulty conceiving 253 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 1: and ended up turning to fertility specialists for help. Around 254 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 1: the same time, Lauren's mental health began to decline again, 255 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 1: she prescribed herself antidepressants. While this is certainly not allowed 256 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:20,160 Speaker 1: in New Zealand, it's common practice in South Africa for 257 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 1: doctors to self prescribe medication. Eventually, the couple learned they 258 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 1: were unlikely to conceive children without medical intervention, and they 259 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: started IVF treatment. Lauren's mother would later reveal that she 260 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:36,960 Speaker 1: was very anxious and stressed after every treatment and found 261 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:41,440 Speaker 1: the process heartbreaking. Lauren and George seven rounds of IVF 262 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 1: before she finally fell pregnant. The baby was a girl, 263 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 1: and the Dickinson's plan to call her Sarah. Sadly, when 264 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 1: she was just eighteen weeks pregnant, Lauren suffered serious health 265 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 1: complications and had to give birth to the baby. Sarah 266 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 1: had a heartbeat, but died soon after she was born. 267 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:03,240 Speaker 1: Graham said Lauren cried every single day for two months 268 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 1: after that. She was haunted by the experience having to 269 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 1: give birth to a baby that wasn't going to survive, 270 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 1: only getting to hold Sarah briefly before she was taken away. 271 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 1: The death was categorized as a miscarriage, which meant Sarah's 272 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 1: remains were disposed of rather than return. 273 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 2: To her parents. 274 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 1: This was agonizing for Lauren, the thought of her baby 275 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: being disposed of like medical waste and being unable to 276 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 1: say goodbye and grieve properly. As soon as she had 277 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:38,120 Speaker 1: recovered physically, Lauren had another round of ivf IT and 278 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 1: the following round were unsuccessful. She and Graham then had 279 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 1: to consider other options, and they chose to try yet 280 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: another round, but this time using a donor egg. This 281 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 1: would mean the baby would be Graham's biologically, but have 282 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 1: no connection to Lauren. The couple were confident they would 283 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 1: love and treat the baby as their own. At what 284 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: it took to create him or her, they were overjoyed 285 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:07,959 Speaker 1: when Lauren became pregnant. It was a terrifying nine months. 286 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:11,439 Speaker 1: Lauren was a nervous wreck and constantly worried after the 287 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:15,679 Speaker 1: loss of Sarah, But little Leona Dickerson was born in 288 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:19,679 Speaker 1: September twenty fourteen. She was a healthy girl, and her 289 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 1: parents were excited to start their new chapter. But Lauren 290 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 1: found motherhood hard. She struggled with the yarna. She was 291 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:31,680 Speaker 1: also still traumatized over the loss of Sarah. In twenty fifteen, 292 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:35,879 Speaker 1: she sought psychiatric help. Then she was diagnosed with a 293 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:42,159 Speaker 1: major depressive disorder, as well as postpartum depression and underlying anxiety. 294 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: Lauren had been taking medication, but it was no longer 295 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:49,239 Speaker 1: balancing her mood, so her doctor changed the prescription. By 296 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 1: the time Leonnae was eighteen months old, Lauren was feeling 297 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:56,159 Speaker 1: and doing much better. Despite the challenges. She was a 298 00:17:56,160 --> 00:18:00,159 Speaker 1: dedicated and cauring mother. She came across as overly anxious 299 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 1: and even neurotic to some looking on, but no one 300 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:07,520 Speaker 1: could question her love for the child. Lauren eventually returned 301 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:12,240 Speaker 1: to work. She'd previously been a GP, but after giving birth, 302 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:15,160 Speaker 1: she went to work alongside Graham as the surgical assistant 303 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 1: and practice manager. When Leona was three, Lauren decided to 304 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 1: try another rondevos Verev, again with Dona eggs. She was 305 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 1: soon pregnant with twins. To announce the big news, Lauren 306 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:31,160 Speaker 1: and Graham invited close family to her parents' home for dinner. 307 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:34,399 Speaker 1: When they arrived, they gave each a white box with 308 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: two cupcakes inside, signifying their twin pregnancy. During the pregnancy, 309 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:43,560 Speaker 1: Carla was diagnosed with a cliff palette and plans were 310 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:46,679 Speaker 1: made to treat her. When she was born, Lauren was 311 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 1: already stressed. Carrying twins as challenging in the best of situations, 312 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 1: and she was already battling her mental health, the pressure 313 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:56,399 Speaker 1: of parenting a toddler, and the trauma of losing her 314 00:18:56,440 --> 00:19:00,679 Speaker 1: first baby. Carla and Meyer were born in November two eighteen. 315 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:04,880 Speaker 1: The Dickisons were relieved when Carla's condition was much less 316 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 1: serious than expected, but the baby still had to undergo 317 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:11,199 Speaker 1: surgery and have both arms and splints to stop her 318 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: touching her face. 319 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:12,960 Speaker 2: Afterwards. 320 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:16,440 Speaker 1: She then developed ticks and Lauren was worried the baby 321 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:20,639 Speaker 1: had cerebral palsy. A specialist ruled that out, and eventually 322 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 1: the ticks stopped. Lauren and Graham hired nanny's to help 323 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 1: them manage their three little daughters. A day nannie and 324 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:29,880 Speaker 1: a separate night nanny were on hand to ensure Lauren 325 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 1: could sleep and keep on top of everything she had 326 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 1: to do. A cleaner also came to the house regularly. 327 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:39,560 Speaker 1: While the staff were at the house twenty for seven, effectively, 328 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 1: Lauren was said to be hands on, involved in feeding 329 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:45,879 Speaker 1: and bathing the children, putting them to bed, preparing their meals, 330 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 1: and organizing their activities. She was open about her difficulty 331 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 1: bonding with all three girls, saying she never felt the 332 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:57,680 Speaker 1: instantaneous love many mothers speak about. One of the Dickinsons 333 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 1: nannies spoke to The Herald after the girl died. Mendy Sibignani, 334 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 1: arrived in the home when the twins were four days old. 335 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 1: She said the Dickersons were an awesome family with lots 336 00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 1: of love and happiness, and both Graham and Lauren loved 337 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 1: their kids like nobody's business. She said, I never saw 338 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:20,120 Speaker 1: any fight in that family or anything We treated each 339 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 1: other as family. I was family too. There was nothing wrong. 340 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 1: They were such nice children. They listened when you told 341 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:29,199 Speaker 1: them not to do that, and when they wanted something, 342 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 1: they would ask. We used to play outside and take 343 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: a walk on the streets. Graham would later say his 344 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 1: wife was not necessarily a warm or nurturing mother, but 345 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:41,359 Speaker 1: she was a good provider, protector, and parent. 346 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:42,879 Speaker 2: He said. 347 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 1: She'd always make sure there were clean clothes, food to eat. 348 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 1: She always made sure the kids were where they needed 349 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:52,439 Speaker 1: to be. It was around the same time Lauren became 350 00:20:52,560 --> 00:21:11,639 Speaker 1: consumed with other worries. In twenty nineteen, Graham and Lauren 351 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:14,640 Speaker 1: decided to leave South Africa and began looking at other 352 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 1: countries they could move to. They wanted a safer environment 353 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:20,320 Speaker 1: for their children where they could have more freedom and 354 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:25,200 Speaker 1: live without fear. Pretoria has high rates of violent crime 355 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 1: and a reputation for consistently having one of the highest 356 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:31,919 Speaker 1: murder rates in South Africa. By the time they were 357 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 1: ready to leave in twenty twenty one, there was the 358 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:40,320 Speaker 1: added tension of increasing political unrest, protests, riots and looting 359 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:44,440 Speaker 1: fueled by job layoffs. In economic and equality was worsened 360 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 1: by the COVID nineteen pandemic policies. 361 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:48,400 Speaker 2: South Africa was. 362 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 1: Put into a national lockdown from March to September twenty twenty, 363 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 1: with movement and travel restricted and schools closed. As the 364 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:59,480 Speaker 1: new strains of COVID swept the world, the lockdowns were tightened. 365 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:02,520 Speaker 1: Graham was unable to work at times and was at 366 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 1: home with his wife and children. It was a trying 367 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 1: time for countless families around the world, parents stuck at home, 368 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 1: often inside with small and demanding children, concerns around health, safety, 369 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 1: and finances. On top of that, Lauren was battling her 370 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:21,440 Speaker 1: own mental health issues and a paranoare around the safety 371 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 1: of her family increased intensely. She messaged her friend a 372 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:28,760 Speaker 1: hate living in this country at the moment. Can't see 373 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:30,639 Speaker 1: us raising our kids here with any. 374 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:31,320 Speaker 2: Chance of a future. 375 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:35,639 Speaker 1: The Dickinson family home was in a residential estate in 376 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:38,719 Speaker 1: the east of Pretoria. The estate was blocked off by 377 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:41,879 Speaker 1: a four kilometer solid brick wall with an electrified perimeter 378 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:46,320 Speaker 1: fence and on site control room. It also boasted a 379 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 1: sound security infrastructure, which included efficient armed guard force supported 380 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 1: by sophisticated security technology. But that wasn't enough for the Dickinsons. 381 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,920 Speaker 1: Graham began looking for jobs in New Zealand, an event 382 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 1: she accepted the role at Timidoo Hospital. He and Lauren 383 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:08,160 Speaker 1: then began the immigration process, which took much longer than expected. 384 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:13,600 Speaker 1: There was so much paperwork, selling the house, shipping their belongings, 385 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:17,400 Speaker 1: packing the children up, finding somewhere to live in New Zealand, 386 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:22,200 Speaker 1: and the admin of their new life here schools, bank accounts, vehicles. 387 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 1: Lauren embarked on a new health and lifestyle plan and 388 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:28,840 Speaker 1: was doing well, coming off her medication for the first 389 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: time in twelve years. She was relieved to be improving mentally, 390 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:36,359 Speaker 1: but also knew that immigration New Zealand would look on 391 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:40,480 Speaker 1: her more favorably if she wasn't currently on any antidepressants. 392 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:44,600 Speaker 1: Lauren was exercising, eating well, and she'd lost weight. She 393 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:48,119 Speaker 1: looked healthy and appeared happy and stable, but as she 394 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:51,640 Speaker 1: worked to move her family abroad, everything began to unravel. 395 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:53,679 Speaker 2: The couple had booked. 396 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:55,639 Speaker 1: Their flights to New Zealand and were doing everything they 397 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:59,679 Speaker 1: could to avoid any of their number contracting COVID. They 398 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:02,800 Speaker 1: sold the house, packed all of their possessions into a container, 399 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 1: and moved in with Graham's mother, Betty, with just their suitcases. 400 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:09,439 Speaker 1: They were only meant to be there for five days 401 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:13,320 Speaker 1: before they flew to New Zealand, but then Lauren was 402 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:16,680 Speaker 1: scheduled for a much needed foot operation. It had been 403 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:20,440 Speaker 1: delayed due to COVID restrictions at the hospital. The Dickinsons 404 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 1: changed their plan and their flights, intending on flying out 405 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:26,800 Speaker 1: as soon as Lauren was mobile. The surgery went well, 406 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:30,720 Speaker 1: and finally everything was going to plan. The family went 407 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:33,480 Speaker 1: for their pre flight COVID tests and were shattered to 408 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 1: learn one of the little girls had the virus. The 409 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:40,560 Speaker 1: family had to isolate for two weeks. They changed their 410 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:46,119 Speaker 1: flights again and hunkered down at Betty's. Lauren was stressed, overwhelmed, 411 00:24:46,119 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 1: and anxious. Emigrating was a huge undertaking, particularly with three 412 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:54,400 Speaker 1: little kids. The looting, the riots, and the violence had 413 00:24:54,440 --> 00:25:00,280 Speaker 1: also escalated. Graham would later describe how that impacted his wife. 414 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 1: There was nothing close to her house, but she was very, 415 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:06,560 Speaker 1: very scared. I think it was a lot at one time. 416 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 1: During that time, she struggled. She didn't eat much, she 417 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 1: didn't have a lot of conversation with anybody. 418 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:13,480 Speaker 2: She was really stressed. 419 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:17,520 Speaker 1: Things got so dire for Lauren that at one point, 420 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:20,920 Speaker 1: during a power cut. She became convinced her family would 421 00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:24,200 Speaker 1: be murdered. She insisted she and Graham sleep with a 422 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:28,359 Speaker 1: nine millimeter pistol beside the bed from then on. Six 423 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:32,199 Speaker 1: weeks before the move, Lauren began taking antidepressants again. She 424 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 1: was losing weight rapidly, and family and friends could see 425 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,639 Speaker 1: she was not doing well. She was often overcome with 426 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:41,720 Speaker 1: emotion and experience panic attacks. Around this time, she told 427 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:44,920 Speaker 1: a friend that she was emotionally done, that she cried 428 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: every day, and that life was shit. She became so 429 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 1: stressed by everything going on that she was constantly nauseous 430 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:55,399 Speaker 1: and she couldn't face eating. She lost more weight and 431 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:59,000 Speaker 1: was described by many close to her as skeletal. She 432 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:01,720 Speaker 1: had thoughts of harming the little girls and spoke to 433 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:04,960 Speaker 1: her husband about this. She said she was seeing images 434 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:08,959 Speaker 1: of sedating the children and cutting their femeral arteries. It 435 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 1: wasn't the first time Lauren had confided in Graham about 436 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:15,160 Speaker 1: dark thoughts of harming their children. She'd earlier sought help 437 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:19,040 Speaker 1: from a psychiatrist for this, but she never actually hurt 438 00:26:19,040 --> 00:26:22,000 Speaker 1: the girls, and Graham put the thoughts down to stress. 439 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:25,480 Speaker 1: When she told them about the sedating and cutting thoughts. 440 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 1: Graham got angry, punched the bed and shouted at her. 441 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:33,359 Speaker 1: He told her to pull herself together or risk destroying 442 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:37,359 Speaker 1: their future. He firmly believed that all his wife needed 443 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:41,680 Speaker 1: was a new start, a change in environment. He genuinely 444 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 1: believed that if he could get her on a plane 445 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 1: to New Zealand, get her settled into their new home 446 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:49,320 Speaker 1: in Timdu, get the girls back to school so she 447 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:55,240 Speaker 1: had time for herself, everything would be okay. Around that time, 448 00:26:55,359 --> 00:26:58,879 Speaker 1: Lauren told a friend, my mental health is the shittest 449 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:03,200 Speaker 1: it's ever been. In late August, the Dickinson family finally 450 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:07,000 Speaker 1: began their long awaited trip. They flew from South Africa's 451 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:10,159 Speaker 1: New Zealand with stops in Doha and Brisbane, arriving in 452 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:13,520 Speaker 1: Auckland on August twenty eight. As part of the response 453 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:17,000 Speaker 1: to the spreading COVID nineteen pandemic, the family were whisked 454 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 1: straight to a hotel for two weeks of mandatory quarantine. 455 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:23,960 Speaker 1: Lauren had been nervous about spending fourteen days in a 456 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:27,840 Speaker 1: room with three kids. She'd packed all sorts of games, toys, 457 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 1: books and crafts, materials, and a vacuum cleaner so she 458 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:34,119 Speaker 1: could maintain some kind of control over the family's mess. 459 00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:37,520 Speaker 1: They arrived at the Novitale to find they had two 460 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:40,920 Speaker 1: rooms with an adjoining door in between. She messaged a 461 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 1: friend and said, I'm glad we are here. At least 462 00:27:44,280 --> 00:27:46,879 Speaker 1: the elephant that was smothering me is off my chest. 463 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 1: Quarantine was mostly uneventful for the family. One day, Maya 464 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:54,600 Speaker 1: was jumping on a couch and fell off, hitting her head. 465 00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:57,720 Speaker 1: She had to go to hospital to get stitches, but 466 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:00,679 Speaker 1: apart from that, there were no other concern us or 467 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 1: red flags. 468 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:03,960 Speaker 2: From their hotel room. 469 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:06,639 Speaker 1: Lauren began reaching out to other South Africans on a 470 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:11,480 Speaker 1: Facebook page for expats and Timido, asking about primary and preschools. 471 00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:14,880 Speaker 1: She wanted to enroll the girls as soon as possible, 472 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:18,320 Speaker 1: get them into a routine and making friends. It would 473 00:28:18,359 --> 00:28:21,119 Speaker 1: also mean she finally had time for herself, which had 474 00:28:21,119 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 1: been impossible in the months leading up to the move. 475 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 1: On September eleven, the Dickinson family were released from MiQ 476 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:31,239 Speaker 1: and they boarded the final flight of their journey from 477 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 1: Auckland to Christchurch. There, they picked up a car they 478 00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:37,959 Speaker 1: had purchased and a second rental vehicle Grams employer had 479 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:40,120 Speaker 1: organized for them for a couple of weeks to help 480 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:43,680 Speaker 1: with their move. The couple then drove in convoy for 481 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 1: about one hundred and sixty kilometers before arriving at their 482 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:51,120 Speaker 1: new home, the Queen Street Townhouse. The house was just 483 00:28:51,160 --> 00:28:54,280 Speaker 1: two hundred and fifty meters from the hospital and across 484 00:28:54,320 --> 00:28:57,880 Speaker 1: the road from a large park with a playground. Graham 485 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:00,440 Speaker 1: and Lauren got the girl settled in the next day, 486 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:02,520 Speaker 1: they went to a barbecue with some of Graham's new 487 00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:05,600 Speaker 1: colleagues and their families, several of which she would also 488 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:07,080 Speaker 1: emigrated from South Africa. 489 00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:09,360 Speaker 2: The next few days were busy. 490 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:14,080 Speaker 1: The girl's school enrollments needed finalizing, Leona needed a uniform 491 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:18,800 Speaker 1: and supplies Laura needed by groceries. They had to finish unpacking, 492 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:23,480 Speaker 1: and they wanted to familiarize themselves with timrou Graham went 493 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:26,120 Speaker 1: to a hardware store to get an Alan key. One 494 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:28,640 Speaker 1: of his colleagues had given Leone a bike, and Graham 495 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:30,680 Speaker 1: thought the brakes were a bit tight and he wanted 496 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:32,960 Speaker 1: to loosen them so she wouldn't pull them too hard and. 497 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:33,720 Speaker 2: Go flying off. 498 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:36,760 Speaker 1: He looked through the aisle, thinking about what else they 499 00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:40,240 Speaker 1: needed at the house. He spotted a bag of cable 500 00:29:40,280 --> 00:29:43,080 Speaker 1: tires and grabbed them. He often used the tires around 501 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 1: the house to secure cords. For example, cable ties are 502 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 1: a very useful thing. I always have cable ties with me. 503 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:51,760 Speaker 1: I didn't even think about it. I just popped it 504 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:55,880 Speaker 1: in my trolley. Graham later explained he also purchased a 505 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:59,760 Speaker 1: screwdriver set, two dustbins, some electrical plugs, and some lunch 506 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:04,280 Speaker 1: box for the girls, one purple and two turquoise. Graham 507 00:30:04,280 --> 00:30:06,240 Speaker 1: and Lauren's plan was to have the first week at 508 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 1: home together, settling in and sorting the house and kids, 509 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:11,920 Speaker 1: but he ended up going into work for a couple 510 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:16,080 Speaker 1: of hours each day, leaving Lauren at home. He said, 511 00:30:16,560 --> 00:30:18,880 Speaker 1: they required me to start at the hospital the next week, 512 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:22,560 Speaker 1: and I needed to familiarize myself at the hospital. She 513 00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:25,720 Speaker 1: wasn't pleased with that arrangement. She was definitely taken aback 514 00:30:25,920 --> 00:30:30,800 Speaker 1: and annoyed with me. On Wednesday, September fifteen, Lenee started school. 515 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:34,000 Speaker 1: She got up and put on her new uniform. Lauren 516 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:37,080 Speaker 1: brushed her hair and tied it up. Then the family 517 00:30:37,080 --> 00:30:40,840 Speaker 1: took photos together to mark the occasion. One shows Linee 518 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:42,600 Speaker 1: sitting on the floor in front of her mother in 519 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:46,360 Speaker 1: her new uniform while Carla sat nearby cutting paper with 520 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:50,440 Speaker 1: some plastic scissors. Graham and Lauren dropped their oldest daughter 521 00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:53,640 Speaker 1: at school. Lene was happy and excited to be there 522 00:30:53,800 --> 00:30:58,360 Speaker 1: to meet her sixteen little classmates. Her teacher, Wendy Hamilton, 523 00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:01,280 Speaker 1: said she seemed a little quiet, but no more than 524 00:31:01,320 --> 00:31:03,720 Speaker 1: any other six year old would be who just arrived. 525 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:07,120 Speaker 1: I remembered commenting to line about how good she looked 526 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:07,880 Speaker 1: in her uniform. 527 00:31:08,440 --> 00:31:10,760 Speaker 2: I showed her where her desk was. The dad asked 528 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:12,040 Speaker 2: if he could take a photo of her. 529 00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:14,720 Speaker 1: I remember the mum asking if she could bring a 530 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:17,920 Speaker 1: cake for Linee's birthday the next week. There was nothing 531 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:21,640 Speaker 1: that seemed odd about any of the family or any interactions. 532 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:24,280 Speaker 1: Leone wasn't harry, and it seemed like she was going 533 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:27,280 Speaker 1: to settle in quickly. She was shy, but nothing out 534 00:31:27,280 --> 00:31:31,400 Speaker 1: of the ordinary. Hamilton paired Lionnee with another little girl 535 00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:32,720 Speaker 1: she thought she'd make friends with. 536 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:34,440 Speaker 2: The day went well. 537 00:31:36,080 --> 00:31:38,640 Speaker 1: The next day, Lauren was alone when she dropped Lionee 538 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:42,760 Speaker 1: at the classroom. Hamilton recalled, Leone came over and gave 539 00:31:42,760 --> 00:31:45,280 Speaker 1: me a big hug. I told Lauren that Line seemed 540 00:31:45,280 --> 00:31:48,840 Speaker 1: happy and relaxed. Everything seemed normal. It didn't feel like 541 00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:50,960 Speaker 1: Leonee had just started at the school because she was 542 00:31:51,120 --> 00:31:54,760 Speaker 1: very confident about getting involved. Nothing gave me course for 543 00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:59,400 Speaker 1: any concern. Before Lauren dropped Leonee off, she and Graham 544 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:01,720 Speaker 1: had taken the two to their classroom for their first 545 00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:05,920 Speaker 1: day of preschool. Graham then went straight to work. He 546 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:08,120 Speaker 1: had not yet started in his new role, but spent 547 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:11,120 Speaker 1: the morning observing a colleague with patients and trying to 548 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:14,240 Speaker 1: learn the system. He went to lunch with another colleague 549 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:17,320 Speaker 1: and his wife, and then returned home. He found Lauren 550 00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:19,960 Speaker 1: lying down on their bed. It was the first time 551 00:32:20,080 --> 00:32:22,640 Speaker 1: she had been alone in weeks, so Graham left it 552 00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:25,880 Speaker 1: a rest, doing some work on his laptop. At two 553 00:32:25,880 --> 00:32:28,040 Speaker 1: point thirty, Lauren went to pick the three girls up 554 00:32:28,080 --> 00:32:30,840 Speaker 1: from school. When they returned to the house, she gave 555 00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:34,600 Speaker 1: Leonae and the twins some snacks, probably raisins or pretzels, 556 00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:37,760 Speaker 1: and some fruit. They watched television and played with some 557 00:32:37,800 --> 00:32:41,080 Speaker 1: wooden blocks on the living room floor. Graham and Lauren 558 00:32:41,160 --> 00:32:44,080 Speaker 1: chatted about how the girls went at school. Then the 559 00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:48,000 Speaker 1: family went across the road to the botanic gardens they'd 560 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:51,480 Speaker 1: been regularly since arriving in Timodoo. The girls loved the 561 00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:54,479 Speaker 1: playground and being outside after the long journey and their 562 00:32:54,520 --> 00:32:58,560 Speaker 1: time and managed isolation was still a bit of a novelty. 563 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:01,239 Speaker 1: Graham sat on a swing while the girls played, but 564 00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:04,800 Speaker 1: Lauren stayed close, afraid they would fall and hurt themselves. 565 00:33:05,280 --> 00:33:08,600 Speaker 1: The family wandered home at five PM. The kids watched 566 00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:12,080 Speaker 1: some more television while Lauren prepared dinner. She made chicken 567 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:14,800 Speaker 1: nuggets for the girls and a separate meal for herself. 568 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:18,480 Speaker 1: Graham wasn't eating with his family that night. He was 569 00:33:18,520 --> 00:33:21,040 Speaker 1: heading out for dinner with colleagues, but he sat with 570 00:33:21,080 --> 00:33:24,040 Speaker 1: the girls as they ate, watching surgical approach videos on 571 00:33:24,080 --> 00:33:27,920 Speaker 1: his phone. Dinner done, Lauren and Graham showered the girls 572 00:33:27,960 --> 00:33:30,760 Speaker 1: one by one, got them in their pajamas, and herded 573 00:33:30,760 --> 00:33:33,440 Speaker 1: them back to the living room. Graham watched them TV 574 00:33:33,560 --> 00:33:35,720 Speaker 1: with them for a bit, then went to get himself 575 00:33:35,800 --> 00:33:39,560 Speaker 1: dressed and brush his teeth. Lauren had been quiet all evening, 576 00:33:39,720 --> 00:33:43,360 Speaker 1: but Graham didn't think much of it. He said, I 577 00:33:43,400 --> 00:33:47,400 Speaker 1: tried to give her space. We had, you know, basic communication, 578 00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:50,840 Speaker 1: but no deep conversations about anything. I think the only 579 00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:52,760 Speaker 1: thing we really spoke about was something to do with 580 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:56,680 Speaker 1: our visas. She was quiet and I just thought, you know, 581 00:33:56,800 --> 00:33:59,480 Speaker 1: I wouldn't try and force her into conversation. But I 582 00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:01,920 Speaker 1: didn't think much of it. To be honest, I gave 583 00:34:01,920 --> 00:34:04,640 Speaker 1: a space because she wasn't talkative. I assumed she was 584 00:34:04,680 --> 00:34:08,600 Speaker 1: stressed or tired. She's not a very talkative person. She 585 00:34:08,640 --> 00:34:11,560 Speaker 1: never was, so when she's not feeling great. I tend 586 00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:14,880 Speaker 1: not to try and push her into conversations. It's just 587 00:34:14,920 --> 00:34:17,400 Speaker 1: the way it's always been. But it was no different 588 00:34:17,440 --> 00:34:22,360 Speaker 1: than previous times. There was no indication. At seven pm, 589 00:34:22,480 --> 00:34:23,960 Speaker 1: Graham left for his work dinner. 590 00:34:24,600 --> 00:34:27,600 Speaker 2: He said goodbar to his children. It was the last 591 00:34:27,640 --> 00:34:29,360 Speaker 2: time he would see them alive. 592 00:34:48,080 --> 00:34:50,359 Speaker 1: Graham had been invited to a journal club with some 593 00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:53,520 Speaker 1: colleagues from work. They held regular dinners where they take 594 00:34:53,600 --> 00:34:56,480 Speaker 1: turns to read up on an orthopedic journal and summarize 595 00:34:56,480 --> 00:34:59,640 Speaker 1: it to the others. On September sixteen, they met at 596 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:02,920 Speaker 1: a local steak restaurant. The dinner finished at about nine 597 00:35:02,920 --> 00:35:06,160 Speaker 1: pin fifteen, and Graham headed home. He pulled up to 598 00:35:06,160 --> 00:35:09,040 Speaker 1: the house slowly. The twins bedroom was next to his 599 00:35:09,080 --> 00:35:11,239 Speaker 1: car park, and he didn't want to wake them. 600 00:35:12,280 --> 00:35:13,880 Speaker 2: He was as quiet as possible as he. 601 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:17,120 Speaker 1: Unlocked the door, stepped into the hallway and took off 602 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:20,400 Speaker 1: his shoes. The lights were off in the little girl's 603 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:24,759 Speaker 1: bedrooms and the house was calm, silent. He walked through 604 00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:26,719 Speaker 1: the living room to the kitchen and put his keys 605 00:35:26,719 --> 00:35:29,960 Speaker 1: in a basket on top of the microwave. Lauren was 606 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:32,880 Speaker 1: standing by the bench holding what he thought was a 607 00:35:32,880 --> 00:35:36,040 Speaker 1: glass or cup in one hand, holding onto the kitchen 608 00:35:36,080 --> 00:35:39,360 Speaker 1: top to stay upright with the other. He thought she 609 00:35:39,400 --> 00:35:42,880 Speaker 1: looked strange, as if she wanted to fall over. He 610 00:35:42,920 --> 00:35:48,440 Speaker 1: asked her if she was okay. She didn't answer. Graham 611 00:35:48,480 --> 00:35:49,680 Speaker 1: pressed his wife. 612 00:35:49,760 --> 00:35:54,120 Speaker 2: What's the matter, he asked. She told him it's too late. 613 00:35:55,719 --> 00:36:00,239 Speaker 1: Until then, Graham had assumed his daughter's were sleeping, but 614 00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:03,120 Speaker 1: after his wife said that, he rushed to check on them. 615 00:36:04,080 --> 00:36:08,200 Speaker 1: All three were pale and cold. Graham couldn't see, hear, 616 00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:10,960 Speaker 1: feel any signs of life. 617 00:36:12,239 --> 00:36:13,200 Speaker 2: As you heard earlier. 618 00:36:13,280 --> 00:36:15,440 Speaker 1: He picked up his phone, and he couldn't remember what 619 00:36:15,560 --> 00:36:19,720 Speaker 1: number to call for emergency services, so called his colleague instead. 620 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:24,240 Speaker 1: Mark's Fattanach had just arrived home from journal club himself. 621 00:36:25,000 --> 00:36:27,480 Speaker 1: He told his wife about Graham's panic call, and she 622 00:36:27,600 --> 00:36:31,040 Speaker 1: decided she'd better go with Mark to Queen Street. At 623 00:36:31,040 --> 00:36:34,759 Speaker 1: that stage, Graham realized the girls were dead. He walked 624 00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:38,319 Speaker 1: out of the house, noticing Lauren lying across Leona's bed 625 00:36:38,480 --> 00:36:41,120 Speaker 1: As he fled, he didn't know if she was alive 626 00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:42,640 Speaker 1: or dead, and he didn't. 627 00:36:42,360 --> 00:36:44,560 Speaker 2: Stop to check. Outside. 628 00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:48,560 Speaker 1: Graham began yelling and screaming and crying. He sat down 629 00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:50,480 Speaker 1: and waited for Mark and his wife to arrive. 630 00:36:51,080 --> 00:36:55,960 Speaker 2: He was in shock. It was highly distressed. He said. 631 00:36:56,520 --> 00:36:58,279 Speaker 1: It felt like an hour, but it could have been 632 00:36:58,280 --> 00:36:59,560 Speaker 1: a minute before he arrived. 633 00:37:00,080 --> 00:37:01,400 Speaker 2: I think I just sat there. 634 00:37:01,239 --> 00:37:04,239 Speaker 1: Against a wall, waiting for him. I wasn't sure what 635 00:37:04,440 --> 00:37:08,640 Speaker 1: to do. Mark could hear Graham screaming as soon as 636 00:37:08,640 --> 00:37:11,320 Speaker 1: he arrived at the house. He said he was sitting 637 00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:13,800 Speaker 1: on the ground. He kept crying and saying, they're dead. 638 00:37:14,400 --> 00:37:17,200 Speaker 1: He was really distressed. He thought his wife was dead too. 639 00:37:18,280 --> 00:37:20,680 Speaker 1: Mark called one on one and directed police to the 640 00:37:20,719 --> 00:37:24,280 Speaker 1: address as his wife sat with Graham, who was then crying. 641 00:37:24,760 --> 00:37:28,759 Speaker 1: How could someone do that. Constable Turnbule arrived and checked 642 00:37:28,760 --> 00:37:32,360 Speaker 1: the house, told his supervisor the children were dead. He 643 00:37:32,440 --> 00:37:35,440 Speaker 1: went back in to check on Lauren. When he spoke 644 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:38,240 Speaker 1: to her, she opened her eyes. She was not visibly 645 00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:41,279 Speaker 1: injured and was able to partially sit up she was 646 00:37:41,360 --> 00:37:45,640 Speaker 1: drowsy and told him she'd taken a powerful painker. Turnbull 647 00:37:45,719 --> 00:37:48,839 Speaker 1: Senior told him to recheck the children and confirm they 648 00:37:48,840 --> 00:37:52,520 Speaker 1: couldn't be saved. He said, I went back and checked 649 00:37:52,520 --> 00:37:55,799 Speaker 1: their airways and pulses. This is when I observed the 650 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:58,200 Speaker 1: two children in the beds had zip ties around their 651 00:37:58,239 --> 00:38:02,799 Speaker 1: neck and they had been cut. There were several ties connected. 652 00:38:03,680 --> 00:38:06,560 Speaker 1: Turnbull confirmed there was nothing he could do for Leonee 653 00:38:06,560 --> 00:38:11,520 Speaker 1: Maya and Carla. Constable Alexander Schrader arrived and went to Lauren, 654 00:38:11,840 --> 00:38:13,680 Speaker 1: who was clearly affected by something. 655 00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:14,880 Speaker 2: She said. 656 00:38:15,239 --> 00:38:18,400 Speaker 1: She was occasionally saying words, but it appeared like she 657 00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:23,839 Speaker 1: was talking like she was sleeping. She was sleepy, weak, pale. 658 00:38:24,560 --> 00:38:27,320 Speaker 1: Shreder led a stumbling Lauren to the ambulance and stayed 659 00:38:27,360 --> 00:38:30,200 Speaker 1: with her as paramedics assessed her. She was in a 660 00:38:30,200 --> 00:38:33,880 Speaker 1: catatonic state, but her vital stats were normal. There were 661 00:38:33,880 --> 00:38:37,160 Speaker 1: superficial cuts to her left wrist covered by a small plaster. 662 00:38:37,960 --> 00:38:41,200 Speaker 1: When asked if she'd done that to herself, Lauren said no. 663 00:38:42,680 --> 00:38:46,320 Speaker 1: Paramedics ascertained she had no life threatening andreas, but noted 664 00:38:46,400 --> 00:38:50,360 Speaker 1: Lauren looked vacant and her speech was slurred and incomprehensible. 665 00:38:51,440 --> 00:38:53,480 Speaker 1: They said there were no signs of an overdose at 666 00:38:53,480 --> 00:38:56,520 Speaker 1: the house or any signs of physical trauma to the woman. 667 00:38:57,760 --> 00:39:01,359 Speaker 1: One paramedic noted the patient was able to walk. She 668 00:39:01,400 --> 00:39:04,720 Speaker 1: seemed to know where to go. The patient remained quite rigid, 669 00:39:04,719 --> 00:39:06,799 Speaker 1: but she was able to walk quite quickly and with 670 00:39:06,880 --> 00:39:11,160 Speaker 1: minimal assistance. She asked Lauren if she knew where she 671 00:39:11,280 --> 00:39:15,720 Speaker 1: was going and why, and the woman replied yes. Lauren, 672 00:39:15,880 --> 00:39:19,400 Speaker 1: supervised by Schrader, was driven to Timoru Hospital where she 673 00:39:19,480 --> 00:39:23,359 Speaker 1: was seen by doctor Gabriella Gason. She noted Lauren had 674 00:39:23,400 --> 00:39:27,279 Speaker 1: a reduced level of consciousness and was nonverbal, but was 675 00:39:27,320 --> 00:39:31,799 Speaker 1: responding to commands. The woman presented as if a substance 676 00:39:31,840 --> 00:39:34,880 Speaker 1: overdose had occurred. A number of tests were carried out 677 00:39:34,920 --> 00:39:37,279 Speaker 1: on Lauren, including a ceed tea scan to rule out 678 00:39:37,360 --> 00:39:41,600 Speaker 1: hidden head injuries. When Lauren was taken from the address 679 00:39:41,600 --> 00:39:45,440 Speaker 1: by ambulance, Graham was taken away by police, who was 680 00:39:45,480 --> 00:39:49,279 Speaker 1: then interviewed at the Timadoo police station. Soon after, he 681 00:39:49,320 --> 00:39:51,160 Speaker 1: spoke to police about what was going on in his 682 00:39:51,200 --> 00:39:55,360 Speaker 1: wife's life before that terrible day, explaining that alongside selling 683 00:39:55,400 --> 00:39:58,240 Speaker 1: their home in Pretoria and organizing a move to Timidoo. 684 00:39:58,719 --> 00:40:02,360 Speaker 1: The couple had faced lockdown with three girls. This is 685 00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:05,000 Speaker 1: part of what Graham told police in his evidential interview. 686 00:40:06,440 --> 00:40:08,920 Speaker 1: These are his words voiced by an actor. 687 00:40:09,800 --> 00:40:12,000 Speaker 4: We had to pack up the house, pack a container 688 00:40:12,080 --> 00:40:13,879 Speaker 4: and we moved into my mum's house with the kids 689 00:40:13,920 --> 00:40:16,600 Speaker 4: in our suitcases. We were only supposed to stay for 690 00:40:16,640 --> 00:40:19,080 Speaker 4: four or five days and then fly out to New Zealand. 691 00:40:19,440 --> 00:40:22,160 Speaker 4: But Lauren also had a foot operation which she would 692 00:40:22,200 --> 00:40:24,680 Speaker 4: have had earlier, but it was delayed also due to 693 00:40:24,760 --> 00:40:27,719 Speaker 4: COVID restrictions at the hospital, and just prior to that, 694 00:40:27,800 --> 00:40:30,440 Speaker 4: we had severe riots in South Africa where there was 695 00:40:30,480 --> 00:40:34,200 Speaker 4: severe looting going on, political unrest, and she was very scared. 696 00:40:34,600 --> 00:40:36,600 Speaker 4: There was nothing close to our house, but she was 697 00:40:36,719 --> 00:40:37,560 Speaker 4: very very scared. 698 00:40:37,920 --> 00:40:38,600 Speaker 2: I think it was a. 699 00:40:38,520 --> 00:40:40,840 Speaker 4: Lot at one time. And then while at my mum's 700 00:40:40,840 --> 00:40:43,200 Speaker 4: we went for our pre flight COVID test and my 701 00:40:43,239 --> 00:40:45,920 Speaker 4: one daughter test are positive and that forced us to 702 00:40:45,920 --> 00:40:48,280 Speaker 4: be in isolation for two weeks at my mum's place, 703 00:40:48,600 --> 00:40:52,040 Speaker 4: which we didn't anticipate. During that time, she really struggled. 704 00:40:52,280 --> 00:40:53,960 Speaker 4: She didn't eat much, she didn't have a lot of 705 00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:57,960 Speaker 4: conversation with anybody. She was really stressed. Lauren was not 706 00:40:58,040 --> 00:41:00,719 Speaker 4: in a good place. It's always been a personality to 707 00:41:00,719 --> 00:41:03,560 Speaker 4: stress about things and to anticipate things are going to 708 00:41:03,600 --> 00:41:06,240 Speaker 4: go wrong, and to worry about them before they go wrong. 709 00:41:06,800 --> 00:41:09,279 Speaker 4: I'm totally opposite. I'm a glass half full kind of 710 00:41:09,280 --> 00:41:12,040 Speaker 4: guy who waits till things go wrong. I don't anticipate 711 00:41:12,080 --> 00:41:15,000 Speaker 4: problems if something goes wrong. I sought it out, so 712 00:41:15,040 --> 00:41:17,480 Speaker 4: we're different in that way. But I understand after being 713 00:41:17,520 --> 00:41:20,400 Speaker 4: married to her for fifteen years, and I supported her well. 714 00:41:21,280 --> 00:41:24,520 Speaker 1: Police heard how Lauren sought professional help for her mental health, 715 00:41:25,080 --> 00:41:27,719 Speaker 1: first when she was a teenager and most recently when 716 00:41:27,760 --> 00:41:31,520 Speaker 1: her oldest daughter was young. Graham said, I didn't think 717 00:41:31,560 --> 00:41:33,360 Speaker 1: those things would ever add up to get to a 718 00:41:33,400 --> 00:41:36,799 Speaker 1: point to be capable of what's happened today. He then 719 00:41:36,840 --> 00:41:40,080 Speaker 1: told police his wife was a good mother. Here is 720 00:41:40,120 --> 00:41:43,120 Speaker 1: more of what he said. Again, these are his words, 721 00:41:43,400 --> 00:41:44,759 Speaker 1: but not his voice. 722 00:41:45,080 --> 00:41:47,560 Speaker 4: She would always make sure they would clean clothes, food 723 00:41:47,600 --> 00:41:49,920 Speaker 4: to eat. She always made sure the kids where they 724 00:41:49,960 --> 00:41:52,960 Speaker 4: needed to be. She was not a nurturing mother. The 725 00:41:53,040 --> 00:41:56,319 Speaker 4: kids preferred me, Not so much Leana anymore because she's 726 00:41:56,360 --> 00:41:59,600 Speaker 4: a big girl, but the twins definitely preferred me. She 727 00:41:59,680 --> 00:42:02,600 Speaker 4: was ruggling with motherhood, and I think I compensated for 728 00:42:02,680 --> 00:42:05,000 Speaker 4: that by giving the kids everything they needed on a 729 00:42:05,040 --> 00:42:09,160 Speaker 4: social level. She verbalized on multiple occasions she doesn't seem 730 00:42:09,160 --> 00:42:11,759 Speaker 4: to think she's a good mother, and I've always reassured 731 00:42:11,800 --> 00:42:14,839 Speaker 4: her maybe that was a mistake. I just never thought 732 00:42:14,880 --> 00:42:17,359 Speaker 4: she could do something like this. She was not one 733 00:42:17,360 --> 00:42:19,400 Speaker 4: that would like to pick them up or just be 734 00:42:19,520 --> 00:42:22,680 Speaker 4: with them or cuddle. She's very good an organization who 735 00:42:22,840 --> 00:42:26,719 Speaker 4: organizational skills are exceptional, but she could just never enjoy them. 736 00:42:27,239 --> 00:42:29,759 Speaker 4: I always hoped that it could improve, and I think 737 00:42:29,760 --> 00:42:32,160 Speaker 4: I just tried to compensate for it. But it was 738 00:42:32,239 --> 00:42:34,319 Speaker 4: never anything that I worried about in terms of being 739 00:42:34,360 --> 00:42:36,960 Speaker 4: harmful to the kids. I think it's just part of 740 00:42:37,000 --> 00:42:39,600 Speaker 4: her depression that she's struggling with. She was a very 741 00:42:39,600 --> 00:42:43,000 Speaker 4: closed book, especially in those last couple of weeks. If 742 00:42:43,040 --> 00:42:45,960 Speaker 4: I suspected anything like this could happen, I never even 743 00:42:46,000 --> 00:42:46,719 Speaker 4: would have come here. 744 00:42:47,560 --> 00:42:50,520 Speaker 1: Graham admitted to police that he and Lauren almost put 745 00:42:50,560 --> 00:42:52,680 Speaker 1: a stop to their move to New Zealand a number 746 00:42:52,680 --> 00:42:56,239 Speaker 1: of times, but ultimately pressed on because they wanted a 747 00:42:56,239 --> 00:42:59,920 Speaker 1: better life for their children. He explained that South Africa 748 00:43:00,000 --> 00:43:02,799 Speaker 1: it was a beautiful place, but there were many political 749 00:43:02,840 --> 00:43:03,840 Speaker 1: and racial issues. 750 00:43:04,480 --> 00:43:04,960 Speaker 2: He said. 751 00:43:05,239 --> 00:43:08,200 Speaker 4: The current situation in South Africa is that white people 752 00:43:08,239 --> 00:43:11,719 Speaker 4: are heavily in the minority and it's dangerous. There's a 753 00:43:11,719 --> 00:43:15,640 Speaker 4: lot of crime and a lot of people getting hijacked, killed, murdered, 754 00:43:16,120 --> 00:43:19,959 Speaker 4: innocent people. The country is going backwards in terms of infrastructure, 755 00:43:20,239 --> 00:43:23,920 Speaker 4: electricity supply. The land value has dropped significantly over the 756 00:43:24,000 --> 00:43:27,000 Speaker 4: last couple of years. There's a lot of people emigrating 757 00:43:27,040 --> 00:43:30,160 Speaker 4: from South Africa all over the place, especially people like 758 00:43:30,280 --> 00:43:32,759 Speaker 4: us with young kids, to try and secure a better 759 00:43:32,840 --> 00:43:36,680 Speaker 4: quality of life, a safer life. She was always on board. 760 00:43:36,960 --> 00:43:40,360 Speaker 4: In fact, she drove this immigration. She wanted it. We 761 00:43:40,440 --> 00:43:43,320 Speaker 4: could have stopped this process at many, many points and times. 762 00:43:43,640 --> 00:43:46,120 Speaker 4: There were multiple occasions where we could have said, you 763 00:43:46,200 --> 00:43:48,719 Speaker 4: know this, we're not going to get through this, but 764 00:43:48,800 --> 00:43:51,400 Speaker 4: we always did and I thought it made us stronger. 765 00:43:52,000 --> 00:43:54,000 Speaker 4: And there were days that were tough, and I often 766 00:43:54,000 --> 00:43:56,000 Speaker 4: tried to speak to her and asked her if she 767 00:43:56,040 --> 00:43:59,360 Speaker 4: wants to proceed, and it was always a consensus. But 768 00:43:59,480 --> 00:44:03,080 Speaker 4: something something flipped. I cannot imagine that it would cause 769 00:44:03,120 --> 00:44:06,840 Speaker 4: what happened today. I didn't see it. My kids are 770 00:44:06,880 --> 00:44:11,120 Speaker 4: dead it's going to destroy so many people. My mom's 771 00:44:11,160 --> 00:44:13,520 Speaker 4: not going to be able to handle this. This will 772 00:44:13,600 --> 00:44:14,000 Speaker 4: kill her. 773 00:44:15,040 --> 00:44:17,680 Speaker 1: Graham then told police his wife had been taking an 774 00:44:17,719 --> 00:44:21,560 Speaker 1: antidepressant called cipromole each day for about six weeks. 775 00:44:21,960 --> 00:44:23,759 Speaker 2: She'd taken it previously. 776 00:44:23,239 --> 00:44:25,680 Speaker 1: But came off the medication earlier in the year after 777 00:44:25,760 --> 00:44:29,439 Speaker 1: she went on a health quest. She exercised and ate well, 778 00:44:29,719 --> 00:44:32,480 Speaker 1: lost way and felt good, so she was confident she 779 00:44:32,520 --> 00:44:35,520 Speaker 1: could cope without the drug. But the day after her 780 00:44:35,560 --> 00:44:38,960 Speaker 1: foot surgery, she told Graham she was struggling, that she 781 00:44:39,000 --> 00:44:42,080 Speaker 1: didn't feel right or well, and she started back on 782 00:44:42,120 --> 00:44:46,360 Speaker 1: the antidepressants immediately. Graham said he checked in with Lauren 783 00:44:46,400 --> 00:44:49,600 Speaker 1: about her meds on a semi regular basis, and she'd 784 00:44:49,600 --> 00:44:51,920 Speaker 1: assured him she'd been taking them as prescribed. 785 00:44:52,840 --> 00:44:56,160 Speaker 4: He told police, Lauren had been suffering from depression for 786 00:44:56,239 --> 00:44:59,239 Speaker 4: a long time. It's just a mild depression, I would say, 787 00:45:00,080 --> 00:45:03,560 Speaker 4: struggles on a daily basis. Before we had Leane, she 788 00:45:03,680 --> 00:45:06,960 Speaker 4: verbalized she didn't see any point in living. She wanted 789 00:45:07,000 --> 00:45:09,839 Speaker 4: to take her own life. After that, she sought help 790 00:45:09,920 --> 00:45:12,440 Speaker 4: for the first time. The second time was two years 791 00:45:12,480 --> 00:45:15,640 Speaker 4: ago when the twins were small. Obviously, there was something 792 00:45:15,719 --> 00:45:18,520 Speaker 4: deeper that I didn't recognize. I've been married to her 793 00:45:18,560 --> 00:45:21,880 Speaker 4: for fifteen years. Not in my wildest dreams did I 794 00:45:21,880 --> 00:45:23,000 Speaker 4: imagine something like this. 795 00:45:24,040 --> 00:45:26,160 Speaker 1: Graham said that on the day of the murders, there 796 00:45:26,160 --> 00:45:29,400 Speaker 1: were no red flags. He explained that he didn't speak 797 00:45:29,440 --> 00:45:31,960 Speaker 1: to Lauren much, but that wasn't unusual. 798 00:45:32,800 --> 00:45:35,120 Speaker 4: He said, I think the only thing we really spoke 799 00:45:35,160 --> 00:45:38,240 Speaker 4: about was something to do with our visas. She was quiet, 800 00:45:38,480 --> 00:45:41,279 Speaker 4: and I thought I wouldn't force her into conversation. I've 801 00:45:41,320 --> 00:45:43,880 Speaker 4: been with her for fifteen years. She's been like that 802 00:45:44,000 --> 00:45:47,680 Speaker 4: many times. There were no fights. I assumed she was 803 00:45:47,719 --> 00:45:51,480 Speaker 4: stressed or tired. It was no different from previous times. 804 00:45:51,560 --> 00:45:53,240 Speaker 4: She didn't seem like she would do anything. 805 00:45:54,520 --> 00:45:56,840 Speaker 1: The detective asked Graham to talk more about what he 806 00:45:56,880 --> 00:46:00,720 Speaker 1: found when he arrived home that terrible night with Lauren 807 00:46:00,840 --> 00:46:04,560 Speaker 1: in the kitchen. Here a Graham's words, again voiced by 808 00:46:04,600 --> 00:46:05,040 Speaker 1: an actor. 809 00:46:05,520 --> 00:46:08,279 Speaker 4: I realized there was something strange in her face. It's 810 00:46:08,360 --> 00:46:10,799 Speaker 4: just a facial expression I haven't seen before, and she 811 00:46:10,840 --> 00:46:13,279 Speaker 4: was wobbly. She had to hold onto the kitchen top 812 00:46:13,320 --> 00:46:15,880 Speaker 4: to stay upright. That's when I asked her if she 813 00:46:16,000 --> 00:46:18,839 Speaker 4: was okay. I asked her what's wrong. And the only 814 00:46:18,880 --> 00:46:21,680 Speaker 4: thing I can remember that she said was it's too late, 815 00:46:22,320 --> 00:46:25,480 Speaker 4: Just bluntly, it's too late. When I saw her the 816 00:46:25,480 --> 00:46:28,359 Speaker 4: first time, I knew something was wrong. She couldn't tell 817 00:46:28,360 --> 00:46:30,760 Speaker 4: me what was wrong. It was just my first reaction 818 00:46:30,880 --> 00:46:33,560 Speaker 4: to go into Leane's room. The door was open and 819 00:46:33,560 --> 00:46:35,880 Speaker 4: the light was off, and I switched the light on, 820 00:46:35,960 --> 00:46:38,800 Speaker 4: and the douvet was covering her head. She never sleeps 821 00:46:38,840 --> 00:46:42,360 Speaker 4: like that. I pulled back the douvet. Her face was pale. 822 00:46:42,719 --> 00:46:44,600 Speaker 4: I tried to wake her up, and that's when I 823 00:46:44,640 --> 00:46:47,839 Speaker 4: noticed the cable ties around her neck. I shot her 824 00:46:47,840 --> 00:46:51,080 Speaker 4: by the shoulders, spoke to her, probably yelled at her. 825 00:46:51,440 --> 00:46:53,400 Speaker 4: I don't think I packed her up at that stage. 826 00:46:53,719 --> 00:46:56,319 Speaker 4: I think I just tried to wake her. I think 827 00:46:56,360 --> 00:46:58,799 Speaker 4: I rang for the twins room saw the same thing. 828 00:46:59,480 --> 00:47:01,360 Speaker 4: I think I tried to wake both of them briefly 829 00:47:01,640 --> 00:47:03,640 Speaker 4: before I ran to the kitchen to get the scissors. 830 00:47:04,440 --> 00:47:07,239 Speaker 4: I cut the cable tie round Leyana's neck first. I 831 00:47:07,280 --> 00:47:09,319 Speaker 4: think I put her on the ground, and I think 832 00:47:09,320 --> 00:47:12,400 Speaker 4: I gave tried to give her two breaths, and I 833 00:47:12,440 --> 00:47:14,680 Speaker 4: think after that I ran to the twins to cut 834 00:47:14,680 --> 00:47:17,400 Speaker 4: the cable ties around their nets. I was in a panic. 835 00:47:17,760 --> 00:47:19,960 Speaker 4: I can't say for sure what was the exact sequence. 836 00:47:20,560 --> 00:47:24,319 Speaker 4: I screamed their names, checked, grabbed their shoulders. I think 837 00:47:24,320 --> 00:47:25,920 Speaker 4: I had just see in the color of their faces 838 00:47:25,920 --> 00:47:28,360 Speaker 4: that it was futile, but I cut the cable ties. 839 00:47:29,400 --> 00:47:32,800 Speaker 4: I think when I realized that they all three deceased, 840 00:47:33,200 --> 00:47:35,320 Speaker 4: I just went out of the house. I had nowhere 841 00:47:35,360 --> 00:47:38,239 Speaker 4: to go. I did notice that Lauren made her way 842 00:47:38,280 --> 00:47:40,680 Speaker 4: to Layana's room, and I think the last time I 843 00:47:40,719 --> 00:47:42,600 Speaker 4: saw her she was just lying across the foot of 844 00:47:42,640 --> 00:47:45,600 Speaker 4: Leyana's bed. I wasn't sure if she was dead or alive. 845 00:47:46,080 --> 00:47:49,839 Speaker 4: I didn't check. I just walked past and walked out 846 00:47:49,880 --> 00:47:52,560 Speaker 4: of the house. I didn't talk to her. She was 847 00:47:52,640 --> 00:47:55,719 Speaker 4: just laying with her eyes closed. I asked Mark to 848 00:47:55,719 --> 00:47:58,400 Speaker 4: come and help me. He'd probably hear I was distressed. 849 00:47:58,760 --> 00:48:01,080 Speaker 4: He asked what's wrong, and I think I just told 850 00:48:01,120 --> 00:48:03,719 Speaker 4: him something's wrong with the kids, that Lauren did something 851 00:48:03,760 --> 00:48:06,920 Speaker 4: to them, and I think they did. I walked around 852 00:48:06,960 --> 00:48:09,279 Speaker 4: the house. I think I was screaming around the back 853 00:48:09,360 --> 00:48:11,520 Speaker 4: side of the house. I think I just sat in 854 00:48:11,600 --> 00:48:13,840 Speaker 4: the hedge, just on the grass. 855 00:48:14,239 --> 00:48:17,240 Speaker 1: By four pm on Friday, Lauren Dickinson had been discharged 856 00:48:17,280 --> 00:48:20,560 Speaker 1: from hospital. Doctors who had been treating her believed she 857 00:48:20,640 --> 00:48:23,680 Speaker 1: was fit enough mentally and physically to speak with police. 858 00:48:24,680 --> 00:48:27,160 Speaker 1: She was picked up and driven to Timdoo's police station 859 00:48:27,600 --> 00:48:31,120 Speaker 1: and settled into an interview room. The officer who interviewed 860 00:48:31,160 --> 00:48:33,920 Speaker 1: her said she was polite, willing to engage with police 861 00:48:34,080 --> 00:48:38,160 Speaker 1: and articulate. She was quietly spoken that maintained eye contact 862 00:48:38,400 --> 00:48:42,759 Speaker 1: and understood what was happening to her. Lauren looked exhausted 863 00:48:42,800 --> 00:48:45,960 Speaker 1: in the video, gaunt with a drawn face, her nearly 864 00:48:45,960 --> 00:48:49,600 Speaker 1: skeletal frame swimming in a black hoodie. She was tearful 865 00:48:49,600 --> 00:48:52,040 Speaker 1: as she spoke to the detective, but her words were 866 00:48:52,040 --> 00:48:55,920 Speaker 1: clear and coherent. Her eyes remained closed during much of 867 00:48:55,920 --> 00:48:59,319 Speaker 1: the interview, which started with Lauren explaining how her moved 868 00:48:59,320 --> 00:49:03,960 Speaker 1: to New Zealand had been so overwhelming. The morning of 869 00:49:04,000 --> 00:49:07,799 Speaker 1: the murders, the family's immigration advisor had requested further information 870 00:49:07,960 --> 00:49:12,520 Speaker 1: about Lauren's mental health and Carla's cleft palette that had 871 00:49:12,520 --> 00:49:17,680 Speaker 1: exacerbated Lauren's already extreme stress. While her police interview can 872 00:49:17,719 --> 00:49:22,000 Speaker 1: be reported word for word, the actual audio cannot be reproduced, 873 00:49:22,640 --> 00:49:26,760 Speaker 1: So this is an actor reading what Lauren Dickerson told police. 874 00:49:27,360 --> 00:49:30,239 Speaker 5: I don't even know where to start. It just got 875 00:49:30,280 --> 00:49:33,640 Speaker 5: too overwhelming, and with the new visa thing that came 876 00:49:33,719 --> 00:49:36,600 Speaker 5: through yesterday, I just see no hope for us here 877 00:49:36,640 --> 00:49:40,279 Speaker 5: in the future. Just getting on the airplane was enough 878 00:49:40,280 --> 00:49:43,239 Speaker 5: of an effort. There was too much paperwork to be done. 879 00:49:43,360 --> 00:49:45,799 Speaker 5: And then there was the two weeks in MiQ, which 880 00:49:45,840 --> 00:49:51,120 Speaker 5: almost had us crazy. Something just snapped last night. I 881 00:49:51,200 --> 00:49:58,279 Speaker 5: just couldn't anymore. I was so tired of screaming, saying no. Basically, 882 00:49:58,320 --> 00:50:01,640 Speaker 5: the kids were being wild again, jumping on the couches, 883 00:50:01,840 --> 00:50:05,319 Speaker 5: not listening to what I'm trying to tell them. I 884 00:50:05,400 --> 00:50:08,800 Speaker 5: have been thinking about it for sure. Last night something 885 00:50:08,840 --> 00:50:12,520 Speaker 5: just triggered me. I went to the garage. I saw 886 00:50:12,560 --> 00:50:16,400 Speaker 5: some cable ties there. I thought that could possibly work. 887 00:50:17,719 --> 00:50:21,520 Speaker 1: Lauren described how she herded the children together in one room, 888 00:50:21,560 --> 00:50:24,840 Speaker 1: telling them they were going to make necklaces. When the 889 00:50:24,880 --> 00:50:28,880 Speaker 1: cable ties were around their necks, she tightened them, but 890 00:50:29,320 --> 00:50:32,520 Speaker 1: the plastic devices were not strong enough to kill the children, 891 00:50:33,400 --> 00:50:39,360 Speaker 1: so Lauren strangled them one by one, starting with little Carla. 892 00:50:39,680 --> 00:50:41,160 Speaker 2: Here is what she told police. 893 00:50:41,920 --> 00:50:45,680 Speaker 5: I did the twins first. The first one was being really, 894 00:50:45,800 --> 00:50:50,480 Speaker 5: really really horrible to me. Lately, she has been biting 895 00:50:50,520 --> 00:50:53,799 Speaker 5: me and hitting me and scratching me and throwing tantrums 896 00:50:53,840 --> 00:50:56,759 Speaker 5: twenty four hours a day. And I just don't know 897 00:50:56,800 --> 00:51:00,680 Speaker 5: how to manage that. That is why I did her first. 898 00:51:01,640 --> 00:51:04,640 Speaker 1: Once Lauren knew her girls were dead, she tucked them 899 00:51:04,719 --> 00:51:08,239 Speaker 1: up into their beds, pulling their blankets over their heads. 900 00:51:08,880 --> 00:51:12,080 Speaker 1: She would later tell psychiatric experts why she did that, 901 00:51:12,760 --> 00:51:15,480 Speaker 1: and I'll explain that in part two of A Moment 902 00:51:15,520 --> 00:51:19,319 Speaker 1: in Crime the Dickinson Family Tragedy. Lauren said after the 903 00:51:19,360 --> 00:51:22,560 Speaker 1: girls were gone, she decided she had to do something 904 00:51:22,600 --> 00:51:25,600 Speaker 1: to herself. She ran through the house trying to find 905 00:51:25,600 --> 00:51:28,640 Speaker 1: something she could use to take her life. She couldn't 906 00:51:28,680 --> 00:51:31,640 Speaker 1: find any blades sharp enough to inflict a fatal wound, 907 00:51:32,120 --> 00:51:36,520 Speaker 1: so she started swallowing any medication she could find. I 908 00:51:36,640 --> 00:51:40,880 Speaker 1: wanted to die, she told the detective. He asked Lauren 909 00:51:40,880 --> 00:51:43,760 Speaker 1: about becoming a mother and the lead up to the murder. 910 00:51:45,000 --> 00:51:47,319 Speaker 1: She said she had not felt normal for about nine 911 00:51:47,400 --> 00:51:50,680 Speaker 1: or ten weeks, and when they arrived in Timidoo, she 912 00:51:50,920 --> 00:51:54,880 Speaker 1: instantly regretted upending her family and moving so far away. 913 00:51:56,440 --> 00:51:58,800 Speaker 1: Here is Lauren again in her police interview. 914 00:51:59,440 --> 00:52:03,040 Speaker 5: We struggle with infertility for years and years. I had 915 00:52:03,040 --> 00:52:06,360 Speaker 5: a baby before Liyana, and I lost her at twenty weeks. 916 00:52:06,880 --> 00:52:09,600 Speaker 5: Then Liana came along, and then the twins were born 917 00:52:09,680 --> 00:52:12,719 Speaker 5: four years later, and they really put a lot of 918 00:52:12,760 --> 00:52:16,360 Speaker 5: strain on us. I have been functioning on two hours 919 00:52:16,400 --> 00:52:19,280 Speaker 5: sleep a day. I think in the last three months, 920 00:52:19,280 --> 00:52:23,600 Speaker 5: I've probably lost ten kgs just from stress. I can't 921 00:52:23,600 --> 00:52:27,080 Speaker 5: sleep at night. I just think we've made a very 922 00:52:27,120 --> 00:52:27,880 Speaker 5: bad decision. 923 00:52:28,719 --> 00:52:31,200 Speaker 1: Lauren told the detective that the day she killed the 924 00:52:31,200 --> 00:52:34,360 Speaker 1: girls was the first time she'd had any time on 925 00:52:34,400 --> 00:52:36,520 Speaker 1: her own in the last four months. 926 00:52:37,280 --> 00:52:40,319 Speaker 5: She said, I just literally crawled onto the bed with 927 00:52:40,400 --> 00:52:43,560 Speaker 5: my hot water bottle and just tried to process everything 928 00:52:43,640 --> 00:52:48,280 Speaker 5: that's happened. My biggest concern was that we made a mistake. 929 00:52:49,320 --> 00:52:51,920 Speaker 1: She then admitted she'd had thoughts of harming the children 930 00:52:51,960 --> 00:52:56,200 Speaker 1: in the past numerous times. It would later emerge that 931 00:52:56,239 --> 00:52:59,240 Speaker 1: there were three occasions before the Dickinsons moved to New Zealand, 932 00:53:00,120 --> 00:53:02,239 Speaker 1: and told Graham she was scared of the thoughts she 933 00:53:02,280 --> 00:53:06,160 Speaker 1: was having about hurting her children. Those incidents were when 934 00:53:06,200 --> 00:53:09,960 Speaker 1: she was battling postnatal depression, but the day of the 935 00:53:10,040 --> 00:53:11,720 Speaker 1: murders things were different. 936 00:53:12,760 --> 00:53:17,400 Speaker 5: These other thoughts were something pretty new, something completely different, 937 00:53:17,480 --> 00:53:20,720 Speaker 5: popped up in isolation. I don't know where those thoughts 938 00:53:20,760 --> 00:53:25,200 Speaker 5: suddenly started coming from last night. Something just triggered me. 939 00:53:25,960 --> 00:53:27,640 Speaker 5: So now I have three dead kids. 940 00:53:28,560 --> 00:53:31,080 Speaker 1: The detective asked Lauren to tell him about her daughters 941 00:53:31,239 --> 00:53:35,600 Speaker 1: and her husband, Leanne. She said, was a dreamer, always 942 00:53:35,640 --> 00:53:39,160 Speaker 1: thinking of some weird and wonderful plan or experiment or 943 00:53:39,200 --> 00:53:42,520 Speaker 1: magic potion. She was a lovable little girl, but she 944 00:53:42,640 --> 00:53:46,080 Speaker 1: never listened to her mother, she said. Despite the trauma 945 00:53:46,120 --> 00:53:49,080 Speaker 1: of her birth, Carla was a real firecracker. 946 00:53:49,960 --> 00:53:50,439 Speaker 2: She said. 947 00:53:51,080 --> 00:53:53,000 Speaker 5: She has got such a temper on her that you 948 00:53:53,080 --> 00:53:56,560 Speaker 5: can't describe the aggression that comes out of that little body. 949 00:53:56,640 --> 00:54:00,000 Speaker 5: And it scares me. It scares her dad. It's scared 950 00:54:00,239 --> 00:54:03,200 Speaker 5: her sisters because she climbs onto them and bites them. 951 00:54:03,520 --> 00:54:06,480 Speaker 5: But then at school they say, no, she's an angel, 952 00:54:06,640 --> 00:54:11,120 Speaker 5: no problems, Maya's a fruitcake. She just laughs and smiles 953 00:54:11,160 --> 00:54:14,160 Speaker 5: at everybody. She's a real happy, go lucky but also 954 00:54:14,280 --> 00:54:18,160 Speaker 5: experiencing the terrible twos right now. If they can't have 955 00:54:18,560 --> 00:54:21,440 Speaker 5: they throw a tantrum and throw stuff on the floor, 956 00:54:21,920 --> 00:54:24,360 Speaker 5: even if it's a full bowl of cereal and milk. 957 00:54:25,239 --> 00:54:28,160 Speaker 5: I say to Graham ever since they were born. Mums 958 00:54:28,200 --> 00:54:31,840 Speaker 5: always feel this instantaneous love for their children, and I 959 00:54:31,920 --> 00:54:35,680 Speaker 5: never really experienced it with my kids. I think there 960 00:54:35,719 --> 00:54:38,360 Speaker 5: was something wrong with me for not feeling that, and 961 00:54:38,440 --> 00:54:39,960 Speaker 5: I did my best that I could. 962 00:54:41,200 --> 00:54:44,440 Speaker 1: Soon after the police interview, Lauren was arrested and charged 963 00:54:44,480 --> 00:54:47,840 Speaker 1: with the murders of Laonee, Karla and Maya. She was 964 00:54:47,840 --> 00:54:50,360 Speaker 1: held in custody ahead of her first court appearance the 965 00:54:50,400 --> 00:54:53,960 Speaker 1: next morning. Then she was taken to Hilmoton Hospital in 966 00:54:54,040 --> 00:54:58,280 Speaker 1: Christchurch admitted to a secure ward unto twenty four hour watch. 967 00:54:59,280 --> 00:55:01,680 Speaker 1: Graham was also I looked after and watched closely, and 968 00:55:01,760 --> 00:55:05,120 Speaker 1: authorities scrambled to find a space and managed isolation for 969 00:55:05,200 --> 00:55:08,359 Speaker 1: his Australian based sister, who wanted to come and support him. 970 00:55:09,040 --> 00:55:11,920 Speaker 1: A week after the murders, Graham spoke publicly for the 971 00:55:11,960 --> 00:55:16,000 Speaker 1: first time. A vigil was held outside the Dickerson's home 972 00:55:16,400 --> 00:55:20,560 Speaker 1: with hundreds of people from Timadoo and beyond attending. Candles 973 00:55:20,600 --> 00:55:23,719 Speaker 1: were lit, music was played and tributes were laid at 974 00:55:23,760 --> 00:55:27,040 Speaker 1: the end of the driveway, flowers, soft toys. 975 00:55:27,239 --> 00:55:28,120 Speaker 2: Handwritten notes. 976 00:55:29,200 --> 00:55:33,360 Speaker 1: Timadoo Hospital chaplain Reverend Alan Cummins led the vigil and 977 00:55:33,400 --> 00:55:37,200 Speaker 1: read a statement written by Graham. Here are Graham's words, 978 00:55:37,680 --> 00:55:39,360 Speaker 1: again voiced by an actor. 979 00:55:40,239 --> 00:55:43,200 Speaker 4: My words are few. At the moment, on Thursday, the 980 00:55:43,239 --> 00:55:46,720 Speaker 4: sixteenth of September twenty twenty one, my life and lawrens 981 00:55:46,719 --> 00:55:49,680 Speaker 4: were turned upside down when our three precious angels were 982 00:55:49,760 --> 00:55:52,239 Speaker 4: ripped away from us. It is a loss that I 983 00:55:52,280 --> 00:55:54,320 Speaker 4: will carry with me for the rest of my life. 984 00:55:55,440 --> 00:55:58,680 Speaker 4: Please also pray for my lovely Lauren, as I honestly 985 00:55:58,719 --> 00:56:01,200 Speaker 4: believe she is a victim of this tragedy as well. 986 00:56:01,719 --> 00:56:04,359 Speaker 4: People that know it well will testify to that. I 987 00:56:04,400 --> 00:56:08,319 Speaker 4: have no doubt I've already forgiven her, and I urge you, 988 00:56:08,560 --> 00:56:11,239 Speaker 4: in your own time to do the same. It is 989 00:56:11,320 --> 00:56:14,160 Speaker 4: the key to healing from this loss we have all experienced. 990 00:56:14,680 --> 00:56:18,080 Speaker 4: For the people touched and affected by this, look after yourself, 991 00:56:18,440 --> 00:56:22,239 Speaker 4: look after your wives, your husbands, your partners. Look after 992 00:56:22,280 --> 00:56:26,040 Speaker 4: your children. For those with faith in Jesus Christ, hold 993 00:56:26,040 --> 00:56:29,439 Speaker 4: on to that. For the parents with young kids, remember them. 994 00:56:29,880 --> 00:56:32,560 Speaker 4: Remember to let them run free, remember to let them 995 00:56:32,600 --> 00:56:35,600 Speaker 4: play wild, allow them to laugh as much as they can. 996 00:56:36,160 --> 00:56:38,400 Speaker 4: I thank you for your love and support the people 997 00:56:38,400 --> 00:56:42,399 Speaker 4: of Timaru, New Zealanders. South Africans and many people from 998 00:56:42,440 --> 00:56:45,279 Speaker 4: all over the world. We have been blessed with love 999 00:56:45,320 --> 00:56:49,239 Speaker 4: and support. My faith in humanity has been restored. I 1000 00:56:49,320 --> 00:56:49,919 Speaker 4: thank you all. 1001 00:56:52,360 --> 00:56:55,160 Speaker 1: Over the next twenty two months, Lauren remained in the 1002 00:56:55,200 --> 00:56:59,000 Speaker 1: secure unit awaiting her trial in the High Court. Her 1003 00:56:59,040 --> 00:57:02,040 Speaker 1: lawyers said about doing all they could to convince a 1004 00:57:02,120 --> 00:57:06,120 Speaker 1: jury she should not be held criminally responsible for her actions. 1005 00:57:06,680 --> 00:57:09,640 Speaker 1: Graham returned to South Africa, moving in with his mother 1006 00:57:09,760 --> 00:57:12,680 Speaker 1: as he navigated his grief and a life without his 1007 00:57:12,760 --> 00:57:16,200 Speaker 1: wife and children. He resigned from his role in Timurrou 1008 00:57:16,400 --> 00:57:20,240 Speaker 1: and found a new job in Pretoria. Police worked to 1009 00:57:20,240 --> 00:57:24,320 Speaker 1: build a case against Lauren, piecing together exactly what she 1010 00:57:24,400 --> 00:57:28,280 Speaker 1: did to the girls and working out why. They poured 1011 00:57:28,320 --> 00:57:31,480 Speaker 1: through thousands of text message and emails she'd sent and received, 1012 00:57:31,920 --> 00:57:34,480 Speaker 1: and looked into every corner of her life as they 1013 00:57:34,520 --> 00:57:38,800 Speaker 1: built a picture of the alleged triple murderer. Both sides 1014 00:57:38,880 --> 00:57:42,280 Speaker 1: enlisted experts to interview Lauren and ascertain whether she was 1015 00:57:42,320 --> 00:57:45,880 Speaker 1: mentally fit to stand trial, and when it was decided 1016 00:57:45,920 --> 00:57:48,320 Speaker 1: she was well enough to go through the process, they 1017 00:57:48,360 --> 00:57:51,320 Speaker 1: set about finding other experts to give evidence to bolster 1018 00:57:51,480 --> 00:57:55,720 Speaker 1: their case in court. The Dickerson children had been cremated 1019 00:57:55,880 --> 00:58:00,240 Speaker 1: following a small private funeral in Timrou There Aren't would 1020 00:58:00,280 --> 00:58:04,040 Speaker 1: later talk about watching Graham carry his children's ashes, how 1021 00:58:04,120 --> 00:58:07,160 Speaker 1: devastated she and the rest of the family were that 1022 00:58:07,200 --> 00:58:10,600 Speaker 1: such bright and promising little girls had been reduced to 1023 00:58:10,800 --> 00:58:14,840 Speaker 1: so little. In mid twenty twenty three, the world watched 1024 00:58:14,880 --> 00:58:17,400 Speaker 1: as their mother was led into Courtroom twelve at the 1025 00:58:17,480 --> 00:58:19,840 Speaker 1: High Court at christ Church on the first day of 1026 00:58:19,880 --> 00:58:23,320 Speaker 1: her trial. In part two of A Moment in Crime 1027 00:58:23,640 --> 00:58:26,720 Speaker 1: the Dickerson family tragedy, I will take you through that 1028 00:58:26,840 --> 00:58:31,280 Speaker 1: trial and what happened to Lauren and Graham Dickerson after 1029 00:58:31,440 --> 00:58:32,520 Speaker 1: the harrowing. 1030 00:58:32,080 --> 00:58:33,240 Speaker 2: Process was over. 1031 00:58:37,120 --> 00:58:39,880 Speaker 1: A Moment in Crime is an mz ME podcast written 1032 00:58:39,920 --> 00:58:43,320 Speaker 1: and hosted by myself, an Elisk senior crime and justice 1033 00:58:43,360 --> 00:58:47,120 Speaker 1: reporter for The New Zealand Herald. This episode was produced 1034 00:58:47,160 --> 00:58:51,680 Speaker 1: by myself, podcast production manager ethan Sells and Leanne McDonald 1035 00:58:51,760 --> 00:58:54,840 Speaker 1: from mzed me Sound and Vision. Thank you to my 1036 00:58:54,920 --> 00:58:57,840 Speaker 1: colleagues Emily Ansel and Blake Benny at Newstalk z B 1037 00:58:58,400 --> 00:59:02,320 Speaker 1: for voicing the words of Lauren and Graham Dickerson. The 1038 00:59:02,360 --> 00:59:05,000 Speaker 1: second part of this episode will be released in two weeks. 1039 00:59:06,480 --> 00:59:09,200 Speaker 1: My thoughts are with all who loved Leonae Meyer and 1040 00:59:09,280 --> 00:59:12,960 Speaker 1: Carla Dickerson. Since they died, much of the focus has 1041 00:59:13,000 --> 00:59:16,360 Speaker 1: been on their mother, but this is their story and 1042 00:59:16,400 --> 00:59:19,920 Speaker 1: it's so important to remember the three little children at 1043 00:59:19,960 --> 00:59:21,360 Speaker 1: the center of this tragedy. 1044 00:59:22,760 --> 00:59:23,880 Speaker 2: If you're worried about. 1045 00:59:23,680 --> 00:59:26,800 Speaker 1: Yourself or someone else, please see the show notes for 1046 00:59:26,800 --> 00:59:27,880 Speaker 1: information on where to. 1047 00:59:27,840 --> 00:59:31,000 Speaker 2: Get help, and please ask for help. 1048 00:59:31,440 --> 00:59:33,920 Speaker 1: There is always someone who will listen and support you 1049 00:59:34,000 --> 00:59:37,920 Speaker 1: when you're unwell or struggling. Episodes of a Moment in 1050 00:59:37,960 --> 00:59:41,120 Speaker 1: Crime are usually released monthly on ensid, herold dot co, 1051 00:59:41,240 --> 00:59:45,880 Speaker 1: dot zed iHeartRadio, and all of your usual podcast apps. 1052 00:59:46,920 --> 00:59:48,680 Speaker 1: If you have a crime or case you'd like me 1053 00:59:48,720 --> 00:59:53,040 Speaker 1: to consider covering, email Anna dot leask at enzidme dot 1054 00:59:53,080 --> 00:59:54,080 Speaker 1: co dot zed