A father told police many stressors had been getting his wife down - but he never anticipated she'd kill their three daughters in Timaru, in 2021

Lauren Dickason admits killing her six-year-old - and two-year-old twins - but is mounting a defence of insanity and infanticide.

Husband, Graham Dickason, spoke with police hours after returning from a work dinner to find his children dead.

He said they'd been stressed emigrating to New Zealand, and experienced riots in South Africa, and health issues.

He said his wife had become distant, and didn't eat much - and the stress meant she didn't didn't have many conversations with anybody.