Lauren Dickason trial
Dickason viewed the world as a dangerous place for all of them
Beaton then turned to Dickason’s motive for the killings, and the Crown’s suggestion that her account of this changed over time.
Dickason did not need to say she killed her children “out of love” for that to be true. She did not say that, yet the defence experts found her motive was altruistic.
“She clearly wanted these children, she tried so hard to have them…she loved them and protected them until the day they died”.
Beaton said her client tried to kill herself and her children, because she viewed the world and New Zealand as a dangerous place for all of them. She didn’t want to leave them behind, and in her depressed state, believed they were a burden on Graham.
“Of course this wasn’t true…but she continued to believe that”.
Her client still thought her children were better off dead some months on, despite also feeling guilty and remorseful, Beaton told the jury.
Dickason did not need to say she killed her children “out of love” for that to be true. She did not say that, yet the defence experts found her motive was altruistic.
“She clearly wanted these children, she tried so hard to have them…she loved them and protected them until the day they died”.
Beaton said her client tried to kill herself and her children, because she viewed the world and New Zealand as a dangerous place for all of them. She didn’t want to leave them behind, and in her depressed state, believed they were a burden on Graham.
“Of course this wasn’t true…but she continued to believe that”.
Her client still thought her children were better off dead some months on, despite also feeling guilty and remorseful, Beaton told the jury.