New Zealand mother found guilty of murdering her two children; bodies found in suitcases after four years

An Auckland High Court jury found Hakyung Lee, a 43-year-old New Zealand mother, guilty on two counts of murder for killing her two children and storing their bodies in suitcases inside an Auckland storage unit for four years. The verdict came after a trial that lasted more than two weeks, followed by about three hours of deliberation. Lee faces sentencing on November 26, and a mental health assessment was ordered ahead of the hearing.

Prosecutors say that in June 2018 Lee gave her eight-year-old daughter Yuna Jo and six-year-old Minu Jo an overdose of prescription medication, later placing their bodies in two suitcases that were left in a storage facility. In August 2022 the remains were found when the contents of the unit were auctioned after Lee stopped paying rent. A post-mortem could not determine the exact cause of death, with investigators noting the four-year gap hindered assessment and leaving open the possibility that an overdose or another method could have contributed to their deaths. The bodies were found fully clothed and wrapped in multiple layers of plastic bags.

Lee, a New Zealand citizen who had moved to South Korea after the killings, changed her name from Ji Eun, also known as Jasmine Lee, to Hakyung Lee in 2018. She fled to South Korea following the deaths and was arrested there in September 2022, extradited to New Zealand to face trial. Her defense team argued she was not fit to stand trial, claiming a mental health collapse after her husband’s cancer diagnosis in 2017 left her fearing for her life. The Crown contended the killings were rational and self-serving, portraying them as a calculated act to start a new life as a single parent free from the burden of raising her children.

Throughout the proceedings, prosecutors rejected the notion of insanity, describing Lee’s actions after the killings as deliberate and organized. Crown Prosecutor Natalie Walker told the court the act of giving the children nortriptyline was a selfish attempt to end the burden of parenting alone, not an altruistic act born of a mental health crisis. She argued there was evidence of planning and a self-serving motive, suggesting a cold calculation rather than madness.

The trial included distressing testimony and evidence, with Justice Geoffrey Venning overseeing the proceedings. In a precautionary measure, the judge allowed Lee to watch parts of the trial from another courtroom via videolink with an interpreter, given the emotional toll of the case. The judge also ordered a separate mental health report to be prepared before sentencing.

In New Zealand, murder carries a mandatory life sentence, with a minimum period of 10 years before a convicted offender is eligible to apply for parole. The court will determine the exact term at sentencing, taking into account the mental health assessment and other considerations.

The case drew attention to the long gap between the killings and the discovery of the bodies, which occurred after Lee’s storage unit contents were auctioned online and buyers retrieved the suitcases and found the remains in August 2022. Investigators described the investigation as unusually complex due to the elapsed time and lack of immediate leads. The judge has scheduled sentencing for November 26, at which time a formal mental health evaluation will be considered as part of the process.

The verdict marks a stark conclusion to a case that unfolded over years, spanning two countries and a sequence of relocations, name changes, and failed attempts to cover up a family tragedy. It underscores New Zealand’s willingness to pursue accountability in cases involving the deliberate harming of children, even when the evidence emerges only after a prolonged period.