New Zealand Woman Convicted of Murdering Two Children

A jury in Auckland, New Zealand, delivered a guilty verdict on Tuesday against Hakyung Lee for the murder of her two children, whose bodies were found in suitcases. The jury’s decision followed a trial that included claims of insanity, which were ultimately rejected. The children, Minu Jo, aged 6, and Yuna Jo, aged 8, were killed in June 2018. Their remains remained undiscovered until August 2022, when they were found in luggage at an abandoned storage unit.

The High Court jury made its decision mere hours after beginning deliberations. Lee, a citizen of New Zealand who was born in South Korea, fled to her home country shortly after the alleged murders, changing her name from Ji Eun Lee. She was extradited back to New Zealand in November 2022 to stand trial.

The tragic discovery of the children’s remains occurred after Lee ceased payments on her storage unit due to financial issues. When the contents were auctioned off, the buyers found the bodies inside the suitcases.

Justice Geoffrey Venning presided over the trial, which began on September 8, 2023. He allowed Lee to view the proceedings from another room, considering the emotional distress of the case. She returned to the court for the verdict, reportedly standing with her head bowed, her hair covering her face.

Lee’s defense argued that she was insane at the time of the murders. However, the jury found this defense insufficient, leading to the conviction. The children had been killed seven months after the death of Lee’s husband from cancer, a detail that added complexity to the case.

According to New Zealand law, the crime of murder carries a mandatory life sentence, with judges required to set a minimum prison term of at least 10 years before parole eligibility. Lee is scheduled to be sentenced on November 26, 2023. The circumstances surrounding the case have drawn significant public interest and highlight the tragic loss of young lives.