Lauren Dickason is guilty: emotions run high among legal team, jury ...

Emotions ran high in the Christchurch high court as Lauren Dickason was convicted of murdering her three daughters.

The jury told Judge Cameron Mander that they'd found Dickason, who is from Pretoria, guilty of killing twins Karla and Maya (2) and Liané (6) in September 2021, about a month after the family had moved to New Zealand.

Her husband, surgeon Graham Dickason, has since returned to South Africa and has not been back to New Zealand.

Dickason appeared emotionless on hearing the verdict, reported the New Zealand news website stuff.co.nz, but as she was taken from the courtroom she appeared to be crying. 

Her lawyers, Kerryn Beaton and Anne Toohey, burst into tears when the judge announced the verdict as some of the jurors fought back tears.

Dickason's parents, Malcolm and Wendy Fawkes, sat calmly as the verdict was delivered, and Wendy stared at the floor.

After the verdict was read, Dickason was taken to the court's holding cells as the judge thanked and dismissed the jury.

"You can feel proud of how you performed your duties. On a personal level, I want to thank you. You may go," Judge Mander said.

It's very unusual for jurors to cry, says Dr James Mehigan, a legal expert in New Zealand, who spoke to YOU after Dickason was convicted.

"I've been a lawyer for many years. I've never seen it. It just shows you how hard it is to be a juror. After all, they had to decide whether she was accountable when the murders were committed," he said in a video call from New Zealand.

READ MORE | Why did Lauren Dickason kill her three daughters? Experts weigh in as trial continues

Clearly, this was not an easy decision for the jury, he says.

"They didn't come to this decision quickly. They discussed it for a long time."

The judge, meanwhile, sent Dickason back to Hillmorton Hospital where she has been held for nearly two years since the murders of her children in the town of Timaru.

"It's going to be a few weeks before they sentence her," Mehigan explains.

"She will undergo observation before the sentencing. This will be taken into account when the judge has to sentence her."

Judge Mander has requested specialist reports about Dickason's mental health and psychiatric care ahead of the sentencing hearing, which has not yet been scheduled.

For her sentencing, the judge will have to consider whether to send her to prison – or to detain her as a special patient under the criminal procedure (mentally impaired persons) act 2003.

If he makes that order, Dickason could spend the rest of her life as a patient at Hillmorton Hospital’s psychiatric unit.

Mehigan thinks she'll get a life sentence – an effective 25 years imprisonment.

"But sometimes there are extenuating circumstances. It would be unusual if she was given life without parole. Judge Mander gave the Christchurch shooter [Brenton Tarrant] life in prison without the possibility for parole, but that was the first time this had happened in New Zealand."

That shooting took place in 2019 when Tarrant opened fire on two mosques.

READ MORE | Heartache and horror: Inside Lauren Dickason's murder trial

"Although this is an incredibly sad trial, we must remember that three children were murdered. It will also have to be decided whether Lauren's mental health is right before she can be sentenced. It will have to be worked out how long she should be sent to prison."

If Dickason gets a life sentence, she may be eligible for parole in 17 years.

"Of course, there is also the possibility that her lawyers could appeal. They may appeal the verdict or the sentencing. There's not a limit in New Zealand on when you can appeal."

As expected with such a high-profile case, there were varied reactions to the conviction.

Her parents said in a statement that "postpartum depression is a terrible condition", and was the reason for what happened to their grandchildren.

"It wasn't our daughter, but a debilitating mental-health condition. Our beloved Liané, Karla and Maya were taken from us because of this disease."

Dickason's parents called on other families to be on the lookout for mental-health conditions.

"There are no winners in this tragedy."

People close to Dickason were emotional about the verdict.

"I'm heartbroken, but it is what it is," someone close to the family told YOU. She knew Dickason and the children well when they were still living in South Africa.

Erica*, a New Zealander who has contact with Dickason in hospital and has previously spoken to YOU, was shocked when she heard the news.

"The verdict is very bad. That means [probably] she's going to have to be imprisoned for the rest of her life. It's really unfortunate that the jury made this decision. Her life will be hell if she is sent to prison."

While she's shocked by the verdict, she half expected it, she says.

READ MORE | She loved our girls, says Lauren Dickason's husband as NZ court hears horrific details

She believes because Dickason appeared "normal" during the trial, the jury thought she might not be struggling with her mental health.

"Lauren's support group remains huge. I will still keep in touch with her. I will also have to consider that her circumstances will change if she is sent to prison. She probably won't be able to get so many messages anymore."

Residents of Timaru, where the tragedy happened, say they were "pleased" by the news.

"That's good news," one said, while a second Timaru resident said, "Thank the heavenly father."

Nigel Bowen, Timaru's mayor, said the guilty verdicts "brings closure for those involved".

“What should have been the perfect story for a young family became a devastating one – it should have been so good,” he added.

Detective Inspector Scott Anderson, who investigated the case, said “words cannot begin to express the tragic circumstances of this investigation”, which he described as "challenging and complex".

He said police extended their sympathies to the families “who will never get to see Liané, Maya and Karla grow up and live their lives”.

Another local, Bernice*, said, "I know it's a controversial opinion, but I'm happy about this finding. I have no sympathy for her. I think she planned these murders."

*Not their real names