The high-profile trial of a South Korean woman accused of murdering her two children and concealing their bodies in suitcases has begun in New Zealand, drawing international attention to a case that shocked the country.
Prosecutors allege that 42-year-old Hakyung Lee killed her children—8-year-old Yuna Jo and 6-year-old Minu Jo—in June or July of 2018, roughly a year after her husband’s death. Their remains went undiscovered for years until August 2022, when an unsuspecting Auckland family purchased the contents of an abandoned storage locker and made the grim discovery.
Lee is accused of fleeing New Zealand shortly after the killings, returning to South Korea where she lived until her arrest in 2022. She was extradited later that year at the request of New Zealand authorities.
Appearing before the Auckland High Court on Monday, Lee refused to respond when Justice Geoffrey Venning asked her to enter a plea.
The judge interpreted her silence as a not guilty plea and told jurors that an insanity defense is expected.
In an unusual move, Lee has chosen to represent herself during the proceedings, though defense lawyers Lorraine Smith and Chris Wilkinson-Smith have been appointed as standby counsel.
The prosecution is scheduled to present its opening arguments on Tuesday.
About the Author
