Triple murderer Lauren Dickason’s defence cost taxpayers $709,000 – bill to rise as sentencing looms

The South African doctor found guilty of murdering her three young daughters just 19 days after arriving in New Zealand has been granted more than $700,000 in government funding for her defence at her high-profile trial.

Lauren Anne Dickason, 41, smothered Liané, 6, and 2-year-old twins Maya and Karla to death at their new home in Timaru on September 16, 2020.

The family had emigrated from South Africa, arriving in New Zealand on August 28.

Graham and Lauren Dickason with their daughters, from left, Maya, Karla, and Liane.

Dickason admitted killing the girls but denied charges of murder - mounting a defence of insanity or infanticide on the basis she was so mentally unwell at the time she could not be held fully responsible for her actions.

After an intense and exhaustive five-week trial in the High Court at Christchurch earlier this year, a jury found Dickason guilty of three counts of murder.

In December, she will be sentenced to life in prison and Justice Cameron Mander will set a minimum non-parole period.

He will also decide where she spends the start of her sentence - in prison or at the forensic psychiatric facility where she has been held since shortly after the murders.

Dickason’s legal team includes top criminal defence lawyer Kerryn Beaton KC, specialist criminal barrister Anne Toohey and barrister Abbie Hollingworth.

The Herald sought information about Dickason’s legal funding and the Ministry of Justice last week confirmed she had been granted legal aid totalling $709,109.50 as of October 20.

The bill is expected to increase after Dickason is sentenced, and pending any appeal afterwards.

Under the Official Information Act, the ministry confirmed that the total bill for Dickason included:

• $153.970 for three psychiatric or psychological reports - the most expensive coming in at $68,000.
• $71,062.50 was spent on a forensic psychologist.
• $58,700.81 was paid for expert witnesses including “preparation and court time”.
• A further $39.945.78 was invoiced for other payments - known as disbursements - for those witnesses.
• $6367.50 was spent on a private investigator.
• $9480 was spent on an expert in computer forensics.
• $3000 was spent on “expert legal opinion”.

Under the OIA, the ministry also revealed Dickason’s legal team had spent a combined 1714.25 hours working on her defence.

Those hours were also invoiced at different rates, depending on the seniority of each lawyer.

Kerryn Beaton KC during the Dickason trial. Photo / George Heard

Ministry national service delivery manager Tracey Baguley said the figures provided were based on invoices received to October 20.

Any billing for ongoing work related to Dickason’s sentencing and further legal actions was yet to be considered.

Dickason called three experts to support her defence of insanity or infanticide including Dr Susan Hatters-Friedman, a world-renowned forensic and reproductive psychiatrist who travelled to Christchurch from the US to attend the trial.

Psychiatrist Dr Justn Barry-Walsh and forensic psychologist Ghazi Metoui also supported the defence position and spent multiple days testifying in Dickason’s favour.

When the children were murdered, Dickason was not employed.

Her husband Graham - an orthopaedic surgeon who returned home from a work function to find the children dead in their beds - was working at Timaru Hospital.

Lauren Dickason during her police interview. Photo / Pool

His position was the reason the family moved to New Zealand, as part of an attempt for a better and safer life than in South Africa.

“Legal aid is government funding to pay for legal help for people who cannot afford a lawyer,” Ministry of Justice national service delivery general manager Tracey Baguley said.

“Legal aid is an important part of New Zealand’s justice system.

“It helps people to resolve legal problems that may go to court and makes sure that people are not denied justice because they can’t afford a lawyer.

Offenders may be ordered to pay back all or part of their legal aid grants.

Dickason’s case is ongoing and it is understood no decision can be made on any repayments until after she is sentenced - and after any appeals.

The Herald sought similar information from the Crown on the cost of prosecuting Dickason.

The Crown called two expert witnesses - forensic psychiatrist Simone McLeavey and consultant forensic psychiatrist Erik Monasterio.

They too spent multiple days giving evidence in support of the prosecution case.

Crown Prosecutor Andrew McRae. Photo / George Heard

A Ministry spokesperson said Crown solicitors were bulk funded and did not invoice for their time as they were not remunerated on an hourly basis.

“It isn’t possible to identify the ‘cost’ of any one case,” they said.

However, Crown Law confirmed Timaru Crown Solicitor Andrew McRae recorded 732.5 hours working on Dickason’s case.

Last month, the Herald revealed that taxpayers had footed a legal aid bill of almost $900,000 for the defence of Mama Hooch rapist brothers Danny and Roberto Jaz.

They have now filed a notice to appeal and that total could be set to rise significantly.

Over the years, many high-profile offenders have received significant legal aid.

The Christchurch terrorist’s bill reached more than $392,000.

Jesse Kempson, who murdered British backpacker Grace Millane in Auckland after meeting her on a dating app, notched a total of $406,173.95 by the time his trial and appeals were finished.

Anna Leask is a Christchurch-based reporter who covers national crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 18 years. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast A Moment In Crime, released monthly on nzherald.co.nz