A New Zealand woman has been sentenced to at least 17 years in prison for the murders of her two children, whose bodies were discovered in suitcases after years of being hidden. During a hearing at the High Court in Auckland on November 1, 2023, Justice Geoffrey Venning ruled that Hakyung Lee must serve a minimum of 17 years, starting her sentence in a locked psychiatric facility due to her mental health issues.
A jury found Lee guilty of killing her daughters, Minu Jo, aged 6, and Yuna Jo, aged 8, in 2018. The court rejected her defense of insanity, despite her lawyers arguing that her mental illness should lead to a reduced sentence. They claimed that Lee felt deep shame for her actions and had faced isolation and threats while incarcerated. Justice Venning acknowledged her severe depression at the time of the murders but emphasized that her actions were deliberate.
In New Zealand, defendants claiming insanity must prove they were unable to understand their actions or that those actions were wrong. The remains of the children were discovered in 2022 after Lee stopped paying for a storage unit in Auckland. The unit’s contents were auctioned off online, leading to the grim discovery of the bodies. After committing the murders, Lee fled to South Korea, where she changed her name before being extradited back to New Zealand for trial.
During the proceedings, Lee’s attorneys admitted that she had administered an antidepressant to her children, which resulted in their deaths. Attorney Lorraine Smith stated that Lee “descended into madness” following the death of her husband, which exacerbated her fragile mental state.
Under New Zealand law, individuals convicted of murder automatically receive a life sentence, with a minimum period before they can apply for parole. Justice Venning’s ruling means Lee must serve at least 17 years before being eligible.
The court proceedings also included statements from family members, highlighting the profound impact of the tragedy. Jimmy Sei Wook Jo, the children’s uncle, expressed his devastation, stating, “I never imagined such a profound tragedy would ever befall our family.” He conveyed feelings of failure in protecting his niece and nephew.
Lee’s mother, Choon Ja Lee, described her heartbreak, saying in a statement, “It felt like a pain that cut through my bones, or as if someone was gouging out my chest.” Her words conveyed the lasting impact of the loss, stating, “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.”
In a statement following the hearing, New Zealand police expressed gratitude to South Korean authorities for their collaboration in the investigation. Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Va’aelua noted the children would have been 16 and 13 years old today, emphasizing the ongoing tragedy of their loss.
