A New Zealand woman has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering her two young children, whose bodies were discovered in suitcases in a storage unit. The sentencing occurred on Wednesday, with the judge citing her mental health issues but deeming her actions calculated.
Hakyung Lee, 45, originally from South Korea, killed her eight-year-old daughter Yuna Jo and six-year-old son Minu Jo in 2018, shortly after her husband Ian Jo died of cancer. Lee, who was found guilty in September 2025, argued that she was insane at the time of the murders. The court heard that her mental health deteriorated significantly after her husband’s death, leading her to believe it was best for the family to die together. She struggled to cope with the loss, and her grief manifested in a way that culminated in the tragic events.
Lee administered an overdose of the prescription antidepressant nortriptyline mixed in orange juice to her children. However, she miscalculated the dose and woke up to find her children dead, while she survived. Prosecutors contended that this was a selfish act to free herself from the burden of parenting alone, rather than a genuine suicide pact. The defense argued that Lee’s mental state was so impaired that she did not understand the wrongfulness of her actions, but evidence suggested she had planned the killings.
The children’s remains were not discovered until 2022, when a couple won an online auction for the contents of an abandoned storage unit in Auckland. Upon opening the suitcases, they found the bodies, which had been wrapped in plastic bags. This gruesome discovery prompted a murder investigation by New Zealand police, who quickly identified Lee as the prime suspect. The case shocked the local community and drew widespread media attention due to its horrific nature.
After the killings, Lee changed her name and left New Zealand for South Korea, where she was born. She was arrested in September 2022 and extradited back to New Zealand later that year to face trial. During the trial, which lasted over two weeks, Lee represented herself with the support of two lawyers, maintaining her plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury ultimately found her guilty, rejecting the insanity defense based on psychiatric evaluations and other evidence.
In sentencing, High Court Judge Geoffrey Venning rejected calls for a lesser penalty, stating that Lee knew her actions were morally wrong. He acknowledged her mental health struggles, including atypical depression and prolonged grief, but emphasized that the murders were premeditated. Lee was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years, and she will receive compulsory psychiatric treatment as a “special patient.” The judge noted that her inability to cope with her husband’s illness and death contributed to the tragedy.
The case has had a profound impact on the families involved. In emotional victim impact statements, Lee’s mother, Choon Ja Lee, expressed deep regret for not seeking help for her daughter earlier. The children’s uncle, Jimmy Jo, described the tragedy as an “ongoing sentence” from which he can never be paroled, noting that their grandmother still does not know they are dead. These statements highlighted the lasting pain and unanswered questions that continue to haunt those left behind.
Lee’s imprisonment marks the conclusion of a harrowing case that has shocked New Zealand and drawn international attention. She will begin her sentence in a secure psychiatric facility, with the condition that she returns to prison once deemed mentally fit. The judge’s remarks underscored the importance of addressing mental health issues proactively, while the legal outcome serves as a reminder of the severe consequences of such crimes. The case also raises broader questions about support systems for grieving families and the complexities of insanity defenses in criminal justice.
