New Zealand Mother Convicted of Murder in ‘Suitcase Killings’ Case
New Zealand Mother Convicted of Murder in ‘Suitcase Killings’ Case
Auckland, New Zealand – Hakyung Lee, 44, has been found guilty of murdering her two young children in a high-profile case that shocked New Zealand. An Auckland High Court jury delivered the verdict on Tuesday, rejecting the defense’s argument of insanity.
Lee was convicted after a two-week trial, which heard how the remains of her children were discovered in 2022 by a family who had purchased an abandoned storage unit’s contents. Prosecutors successfully argued that Lee’s actions were calculated, despite the defense claiming her mental health deteriorated after her husband’s death in 2017.
Evidence presented during the trial indicated the children died by homicide, with a pathologist identifying unspecified means, including the antidepressant Nortriptyline. Lee had obtained a prescription for the drug months after her husband’s cancer diagnosis. Prosecutors highlighted Lee’s subsequent actions, such as hiding the bodies, changing her name, and moving to South Korea, as signs of rational thought rather than insanity.
Lee, who was arrested in South Korea in September 2022 and later extradited, showed no reaction as the jury delivered its verdict after approximately three hours of deliberation. She is scheduled to be sentenced in November and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
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