Mother Found Guilty in New Zealand Suitcase Murders

A mother in New Zealand was found guilty on Tuesday of murdering her two children and concealing their bodies in suitcases, following a trial that attracted international attention.

Hakyung Lee, 45, had been extradited from Seoul in 2022 after the remains of her children were discovered in suitcases left at a storage unit in South Auckland. Authorities believe the children had been dead for three to four years before their bodies were found.

The children, Yuna Jo and Minu Jo, were eight and six years old at the time of their deaths.

Lee’s legal team argued that she was not guilty by reason of insanity, claiming that the death of her husband in 2017 had sent her into a severe depressive spiral.

The prosecution, however, contended that Lee was fully aware of her actions and intentionally administered the fatal doses.

During the trial, defence lawyer Lorraine Smith explained: “Lee thought it would be best if the whole family died and they all took antidepressants. But she got the dose wrong, and when she woke up, the children were dead.”

The trial lasted three weeks at the Auckland High Court, with Lee sitting between a translator and a security guard, her head bowed and hair obscuring her face.

Although she technically represented herself in court, Lee did not ask a single question or speak during the proceedings.

After only two hours of deliberation, the jury found her guilty.

The case has drawn widespread attention due to the gruesome nature of the crime and the psychological elements raised during the trial.