The mother accused of murdering her three daughters appeared in court this morning, but their father was not allowed to be there

40-year old Lauren Dickason appeared drawn and distressed when standing in the dock at Timaru District Court .

She entered no plea, and was remanded in a mental health unit until her next court appearance in October.

The girls' father Graham Dickason found the bodies of his daughters on Thursday night when he returned home from a dinner.

But Covid-19 rules meant he wasn't allowed to attend court today.