New Zealand Mother Convicted of Murdering Children Found in Suitcases

A New Zealand mother has been convicted of murdering her two children and hiding their remains in suitcases for several years. Hakyung Lee, 45, was found guilty of two counts of murder by a jury at the High Court in Auckland after the bodies of her children, Minu Jo and Yuna Jo, were discovered in August 2022. This tragic case has drawn significant attention due to the circumstances surrounding the crime and the subsequent legal proceedings.

The children’s remains were uncovered in a deserted storage unit in Auckland after Lee failed to pay the rent. By that time, she had fled New Zealand for South Korea, where she changed her identity. The discovery of the bodies came four years after the children were murdered in the spring of 2018. Lee’s extradition from South Korea occurred in November 2022, and she pleaded not guilty to the charges upon her return.

During the trial, which commenced on September 8, 2023, Lee’s defense team argued that she was suffering from mental health issues at the time of the murders. They contended that the deaths occurred seven months after the passing of Lee’s husband from cancer. However, the jury dismissed this defense after deliberating for just a few hours.

Justice Geoffrey Venning presided over the case and has ordered Lee to remain in custody until her sentencing, which is scheduled for November 26, 2023. Under New Zealand law, murder carries a mandatory life sentence, with a minimum of ten years before parole eligibility.

As the verdict was announced, Lee, who had been granted permission to observe the trial from another room due to concerns for her emotional state, returned to the dock and bowed her head, obscuring her face with her hair. The conviction has reignited discussions around child safety and the responsibilities of parents.

This case comes shortly after another tragic incident in the United States, where a father from North Carolina was convicted of second-degree murder and grievous child abuse in the death of his infant daughter. These incidents highlight alarming trends in child welfare and the dire consequences of familial violence.