The trial of Hakyung Lee, accused of murdering her two children and concealing their bodies in suitcases, commenced today in New Zealand, marking a critical juncture in a case that has horrified the nation and drawn international scrutiny due to its grim details and cross-border legal complexities.
The trial opened on Monday, September 8, 2025, at the Auckland High Court, with Lee facing two counts of murder for the deaths of her children, Yuna Jo, 8, and Minu Jo, 6. She has pleaded not guilty, and the proceedings are anticipated to span up to four weeks, during which the prosecution will present its case starting Tuesday. Justice Geoffrey Venning is overseeing the trial and has emphatically directed the jury to render a verdict based solely on factual evidence, while acknowledging that an insanity defense may be introduced.
The children’s remains were discovered in August 2022 by an Auckland family who had purchased the contents of an abandoned storage unit through an online auction. The suitcases containing the bodies were among the items acquired, and authorities confirmed that the buyers were entirely unconnected to the crime. This grim finding triggered a comprehensive police investigation, which estimated that the murders occurred in June or July 2018, approximately a year after the death of the children’s father from cancer.
Hakyung Lee, a 44-year-old New Zealand citizen originally from South Korea, had resided in Auckland for several years before relocating back to South Korea in 2018. It is alleged that she killed her children shortly after her husband’s passing and then abandoned their bodies in the storage unit, which remained undetected until the auction took place over four years later.
Following the discovery, Interpol issued a red notice for Lee, leading to her arrest in Ulsan, South Korea, in September 2022. She was extradited to New Zealand in November 2022 at the request of New Zealand police, underscoring effective international collaboration in addressing serious criminal cases across jurisdictions.
In court, Lee remained silent when called upon to enter a plea, but Justice Venning interpreted this silence as a not guilty plea and proceeded with the trial. Lee has opted to represent herself, an unusual move in such high-stakes cases, with two court-appointed lawyers, Lorraine Smith and Chris Wilkinson-Smith, serving as standby counsel to assist if needed.
The case has generated intense media and public interest in New Zealand and beyond, fueled by the shocking nature of the crimes and the emotional weight of children’s involvement. Coverage has extensively explored legal strategies, including the potential insanity defense, and the psychological aspects of the accused’s behavior.
As the trial advances, the focus will shift to the evidence presented by the prosecution and any defense arguments. The outcome will not only determine Lee’s legal fate but may also influence future approaches to cases involving mental health considerations and international extradition, providing closure to a community deeply affected by this tragedy.