A mother has been convicted of killing her two children and concealing their bodies in suitcases for four years until their discovery. The verdict was delivered by the jury at the High Court in Auckland, New Zealand, who rejected claims of insanity made by the defendant’s lawyers. Hakyung Lee, a New Zealand citizen, was charged with the murder of Minu Jo, six, and Yuna Jo, eight, in June 2018. The children’s remains were found inside luggage at an abandoned storage unit in Auckland in August 2022.
Lee, who had fled to South Korea after the killings and changed her name, was extradited back to New Zealand in November 2022. Despite her denial of the charges, her defense argued that she was mentally ill at the time of the murders. Prosecutors contended that Lee’s actions exhibited premeditation and selfishness, indicating a lack of insanity at the time.
The tragic incident came to light when Lee failed to pay rental fees for the storage unit in 2022, leading to the discovery of the children’s bodies by auction buyers. Following the jury’s swift verdict, Lee is to remain in custody until her sentencing on November 26. In New Zealand, murder carries a mandatory life sentence, with a minimum term of 10 years before parole eligibility.
During the trial, Lee was allowed to watch proceedings from a separate room due to the distressing nature of the case. Upon hearing the verdict, she stood with her head bowed and face covered with her hair.