New Zealand Mother Sentenced to Life for Murdering Children Found in Suitcases Years Later

A New Zealand woman, Hakyung Lee, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years for the murder of her two children, whose bodies were discovered in suitcases years after their deaths.

At the Auckland High Court sentencing, Justice Geoffrey Venning ordered Lee to begin her sentence in a secure psychiatric facility under New Zealand's compulsory mental health treatment law, with a return to prison mandated once her condition improves.

Lee was found guilty by a jury in September for the murders of her children, six-year-old Minu Jo and eight-year-old Yuna Jo. The defense's insanity plea was rejected. Her legal team attempted to secure a reduced sentence based on her mental illness, arguing that she experienced shame for her actions and faced isolation and threats while incarcerated.

The judge acknowledged Lee was suffering from severe depression at the time of the killings in 2018, but determined her actions were deliberate and calculated. In New Zealand, successful insanity defenses require proof that defendants couldn't understand their actions or recognize their wrongfulness.

The children's remains were only discovered in 2022 when Lee stopped paying for an Auckland storage unit due to financial difficulties. The storage unit contents were subsequently auctioned online, leading to the gruesome discovery by the buyers.

Following the murders, Lee fled to South Korea, her birthplace, and changed her identity from Ji Eun Lee before being extradited back to New Zealand to face trial.

During court proceedings, Lee's attorney Lorraine Smith admitted her client had administered antidepressant medication to kill the children, but argued this occurred after Lee "descended into madness." The defense characterized Lee as always having been "fragile," with her mental state deteriorating significantly after her husband's death.

Murder convictions in New Zealand automatically carry a life sentence, with judges setting a minimum non-parole period of at least 10 years. Justice Venning determined Lee must serve at least 17 years before becoming eligible for parole consideration.

Jimmy Sei Wook Jo, the children's uncle, attended the court hearing where his statement was read: "I never imagined such a profound tragedy would ever befall our family. I feel like I failed to look after my niece and nephew."

Lee's mother, Choon Ja Lee, expressed her devastation through a statement read by a prosecutor: "It felt like a pain that cut through my bones, or as if someone was gouging out my chest. I do not know when this pain and suffering might heal, but I often think I may carry it with me until the day I die."

Following the sentencing, New Zealand police acknowledged the assistance provided by South Korean authorities throughout the investigation. Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Va'aelua stated: "Yuna and Minu would have been 16 and 13 today. Our thoughts are with the wider family today for the tragic loss of these two young children."