In a heartbreaking case that has shocked New Zealand, a mother was found guilty by a jury on Tuesday of murdering her two young children and concealing their bodies in suitcases for years until their tragic discovery.
Hakyung Lee, a New Zealand citizen also known as Ji Eun Lee, was convicted by the High Court in Auckland for the murders of Minu Jo, 6, and Yuna Jo, 8, in June 2018. After fleeing to South Korea following the killings, Lee was brought back to face trial, where her defense of insanity was ultimately rejected by the jury.
The grim details of the case unfolded when the children’s remains were unearthed from luggage inside an abandoned storage unit in Auckland in August 2022. Lee’s attempt to start afresh under a new identity in South Korea was short-lived as she was extradited back to New Zealand.
During the trial, Lee’s lawyers argued that she was mentally unstable at the time of the murders due to worsening mental health following the death of her husband. However, the prosecution maintained that Lee’s actions were premeditated and driven by selfish motives, rather than a result of severe mental incapacity.
The tragic saga came to light after Lee failed to keep up with rental payments for the storage unit, leading to the discovery of the children’s bodies by online auction buyers. The case has gripped the nation, with Justice Geoffrey Venning scheduling Lee’s sentencing for November 26.
Despite the distressing nature of the trial, Lee was granted permission to follow the proceedings from a separate room in the courthouse, only reappearing in the dock for the verdict with her head bowed and face obscured.