A light sentence

1 News reports:

Lauren Dickason has been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for murdering her three young daughters in their Timaru home nearly three years ago.

She is eligible for parole in just six years.

Justice Mander said “there is a direct causal connection between your mental illness and your offending which significantly reduces your moral culpability”. 

“This tragic event would not have occurred if not for the major depressive disorder that you suffered.”

This is true, but suffice to say many many parents have major depressive episodes and don’t murder their children.

Graham Dickason said he made the decision early on to forgive Lauren for what happened. 

“Her punishment is already severe and her life will never be the same. 

“I hold no unforgiveness or anger towards Lauren.”

He is a better man than me.