The Dickason Family Tragedy - Part Two: Very Sick or Very Wicked?

In March 1990, two mothers walked out of Timaru Hospital believing they were taking home their newborn daughters. But somewhere inside the hospital, the babies had been switched. The mistake went undiscovered for five years, leaving two families to grapple with an extraordinary situation and questions about identity, motherhood, and the lives their daughters might otherwise have lived. The girls were raised by the wrong families, with the truth eventually coming to light years after their births. For the mothers at the centre of the drama, the discovery would have life-changing consequences. What followed was not simply a matter of correcting a hospital mistake, but navigating the complicated relationships, emotions and realities created by years of believing one child was their own. The story attracted significant public attention, bringing intense scrutiny to the families as they tried to make sense of what had happened. For Sandra, one of the mothers involved, the consequences have endured long after the initial discovery. The public attention made an already difficult situation harder, and relationships within the families changed in ways that could not simply be undone. The case remains one of New Zealand’s most extraordinary stories, raising questions about how such a mistake could happen and the lasting impact on those involved. It was not a crime, but it left a profound mark on the lives of two families. In the latest episode of A Moment In Crime, host Anna Leask looks back at the Timaru baby swap, exploring the circumstances surrounding the mix-up and speaking to Sandra about her recollections of the events and their aftermath. The episode revisits a story that continues to challenge any easy understanding of family, identity and the meaning of being a mother. A Moment In Crime is written and hosted by Leask, who specialises in crime and justice reporting. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for more than 20 years. This episode was produced by Leask and NZME audio engineer Alastair Boyes. Episodes of A Moment In Crime are usually released monthly. Leask has covered more than 70 cases, including the murders of Grace Millane, Scott Guy, Austin Hemmings, Carmen Thomas, Karen Aim; the deaths of the Kahui twins; the Christchurch mosque attack and the historical Heavenly Creatures murder; the case of Lauren Dickason, who was jailed for murdering her three young daughters soon after emigrating to New Zealand, and the massacres at Raurimu and Aramoana. This year, Leask also revealed the full story of Nicola Flint, the Christchurch woman accused of faking cancer for years and ripping off a rugby club and her former employer to the tune of more than $180,000. The two-part special is available now. Since 2019, A Moment in Crime has been downloaded more than 2 million times by listeners in more than 170 countries. It was nominated for Best True Crime Podcast at the 2024 Radio and Podcast Awards. A Moment In Crime is available on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are released monthly. If you have a crime or case you would like to hear more about, email [email protected]. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2020, Dunedin doctor Venod “Vinny” Skantha was jailed for life with a minimum non-parole period of 19 years for murdering teenager Amber-Rose Rush. In 2018 the 16-year-old said she was going to police and the defendant’s Dunedin Hospital bosses with allegations of Skantha sexually assaulting young women and providing alcohol to minors. Skantha’s job was already in jeopardy after he had been given a final warning for serious misconduct — the new claims would likely have ended his career. To keep the teenager quiet, Skantha went to her property, entered the house and stabbed her to death in her bed. Amber-Rose was the youngest of three children and according to her mother Lisa-Ann, the “glue” that held the family together. Tragically, just months after Amber-Rose died, her mother died in a suspected suicide. In this episode of Herald podcast A Moment In Crime, senior journalist Anna Leask looks back at the life and death of Amber-Rose. The episode also explains the death of Skantha in prison the day after an appeal against his conviction failed. This episode includes graphic descriptions of violent acts, which some listeners may find distressing or triggering. A Moment In Crime is written and hosted by Leask, who specialises in crime and justice reporting. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 20 years. This episode was produced by Leask and NZME audio engineer Alastair Boyes. Episodes of A Moment In Crime are usually released monthly. If you have a crime or case you would like to hear more about, email [email protected]

For years, baby killer Lise Turner hid in plain sight — shielded by medical uncertainty, misplaced trust and the tragedy of so-called cot death. Her crimes were only uncovered after the death of 8-month-old Michael Tinnion in Christchurch in 1984 exposed a deadly pattern authorities had missed. Turner was later convicted of murdering three babies — including her two infant daughters, Megan and Cheney — and attempting to murder three other infants. In the latest episode of Herald true crime podcast A Moment In Crime, senior journalist Anna Leask looks back at Turner’s offending - and those most impacted. More than four decades later after his murder Michael’s mother Lauree Ashworth, is speaking publicly about the day her son died, the woman she trusted, and the lifelong impact of a crime that shattered her family. “I live with it every single day,” she said. In this powerful episode of A Moment In Crime, Lauree shares her memories of Michael, the investigation that exposed one of New Zealand’s worst serial child killers, and how her family has kept Michael’s memory alive for more than 40 years. Listen to A Moment In Crime on the iHeart app - or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode includes graphic descriptions of violent acts, which some listeners may find distressing or triggering. Listener discretion is strongly advised. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or distress, support is available. Scroll down for a list of support services. And please consider your well-being before listening. In 2025, a man with a lengthy history of stalking and attacking women was jailed for life with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years for murdering his ex-partner, Chantal McDonald, in front of her children at their Christchurch home. But violent serial offender Nathan Boulter refused to stand in court in front of his victim’s family – including her teenage daughter who spoke for the first time about witnessing the murder – appearing by audio-visual link from another room in the court precinct instead. The Herald has been reporting on Boulter’s horrifying offending since 2011 – after his high-profile stalking, kidnapping and assault of his ex-girlfriend on Great Barrier Island. Since then, he has been jailed repeatedly for violent offending against women. In this episode of A Moment Of Crime senior journalist Anna Leask unravels Boulter's life of offending. A Moment In Crime is written and hosted by Leask — who specialises in crime and justice reporting. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 20 years. This episode was produced by Leask and NZME audio engineer Alastair Boyes. If you have a crime or case you would like to hear more about, email [email protected] Since 2019, A Moment in Crime has produced over 55 episodes and has been downloaded over 1 million times, with listeners in over 170 countries. It was nominated for Best True Crime Podcast at the 2024 Radio and Podcast Awards. If there is a case you want to hear more about email [email protected]

This is the second part of a two-part A Moment In Crime special. Christchurch woman Nicola Flint told friends she was dying, even showing them the spot where her ashes would be scattered. They grieved and gave thousands to help her fight cancer. But police say there is no evidence of any cancer diagnosis – and behind Flint's narrative, a web of forged medical letters, bank payouts and theft from a rugby club – fraud totalling more than $180,000. Now, as Flint hides out in Wales from the fallout of her elaborate tales, Herald senior crime and justice journalist Anna Leask looks inside the alleged fraud and speaks to those hurt the most by her long-running cancer stories. If you have information about Nicola Flint, contact [email protected] READ MORE: Inside alleged Christchurch fraudster Nicola Flint’s elaborate, years-long cancer con Christchurch cancer fraud: Friend of Nicola Flint speaks out on lies A Moment In Crime is written and hosted by Leask — who specialises in crime and justice reporting. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 20 years. This episode was produced by Leask and NZME audio engineer Alastair Boyes. If you have a crime or case you would like to hear more about, email [email protected] Since 2019, A Moment in Crime has produced over 55 episodes and has been downloaded over 1 million times, with listeners in over 170 countries. It was nominated for Best True Crime Podcast at the 2024 Radio and Podcast Awards.