Mum heard ‘sobbing and wailing’ by neighbours ‘killed her three young daughters’

Neighbours close to the family home in New Zealand also reported hearing a man screaming, ‘Is this really happening?’ after the bodies of the three girls were found.

A mum allegedly killed her three children just days after she moved them to New Zealand to start a new life.

Neighbours close to the family home claim they heard haunting cries and a woman sobbing.

It is understood Lauren and Graham Dickinson, and their three daughters, Maya and Karla, two, and their sister, Liane, had only lived at the house for a week after completing their legal hotel quarantine after arriving in New Zealand from South Africa.

The girls’ mother was taken to hospital in a stable condition after police were called to the scene on Thursday night.

Lauren Dickinson has now been charged with their murder.

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Her husband reportedly found the girls dead and is said to have been heard screaming: “Is this really happening?”

A family photograph posted online on August 30 showed the smiling girls clutching toy kiwis when they landed in New Zealand.

Graham, an orthopaedic surgeon, and Lauren, a hospital doctor, are said to have been planning the move for some time.

Lauren’s parents, Wendy and Malcolm Fawkes, told NZ news site Stuff that they were “devastated” to hear of the tragedy.

They said: “The extended families are in a state of shock as we try to understand what happened. We ask for your prayers and support during this very difficult time.

“We would also request privacy as we battle to come to terms with what has happened.”

Neighbours say they heard a bang and then the sounds of sobbing and moaning at around 9.40pm on Thursday.

One woman, Jade Whaley, said: “The first noise we heard was somebody sobbing, and then we heard a loud thud like someone just slammed a door.

“We could see someone through our fence wandering behind the house and wailing.”

The Sun reports another neighbour, Karen Cowper described hearing a man cry out: “Is this really happening?”

She said: “We asked him if he was ok. He did not respond to us and was screaming and crying hysterically.”

Detectived Inspector Scott Anderson said: “Police would like to reassure the community that this was a tragic isolated incident and we are not seeking anybody else.

“The investigation into this tragedy is still in its very early stages, but we can confirm that nobody else is being sought in relation to the deaths of the three children.”

Inspector Dave Gaskin, area commander, said it was “another incredibly sad event for the people of Timaru,” following a crash that killed five teenagers.

Police had sealed off the house – believed to be leased by the local hospital for newly arrived staff after emergency workers tried to save the three girls.

Forensic officers could be seen examining the house on Friday and combing the area for evidence.