New Zealand woman guilty of murdering 2 children, hiding bodies in luggage

Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
3M ago
39 views
A New Zealand woman was convicted of murdering her two children and hiding their remains in suitcases, with the jury rejecting her insanity defense.
New Zealand woman guilty of murdering 2 children, hiding bodies in luggage
A What happened
Hakyung Lee, a 45-year-old woman from New Zealand, was convicted of murdering her two children, six-year-old Minu Jo and eight-year-old Yuna Jo, in June 2018. The jury at the Auckland High Court found her guilty after only two hours of deliberation, rejecting her defense of insanity. The children's remains were discovered in suitcases at a storage facility in Auckland, which had been auctioned off after Lee stopped paying rent due to financial difficulties. Crown Prosecutor Natalie Walker argued that Lee's actions were calculated, indicating she was aware of her actions. Lee had fled to South Korea after the murders and changed her name, but was extradited back to New Zealand in November 2022. She is set to be sentenced on November 26, with a mandatory life sentence expected.

Key insights

  • 1

    Insanity Defense Rejected: The jury dismissed Lee's claim of insanity during the trial.

  • 2

    Children's Remains Discovered: The bodies were found in suitcases after the storage unit was auctioned.

  • 3

    Extradition from South Korea: Lee was extradited back to New Zealand after fleeing post-murder.

Takeaways

The case highlights significant issues surrounding mental health and the justice system.

Topics

World & Politics International Affairs