New Zealand Trial Begins for Mother Accused of Killing Children, Storing Bodies in Suitcases
New Zealand Trial Begins for Mother Accused of Killing Children, Storing Bodies in Suitcases
A high-profile murder trial has commenced in New Zealand, with Hakyung Lee facing charges of killing her two young children, Minu Jo, 6, and Yuna Jo, 8, in June 2018. The trial opened on Monday at the High Court in Auckland, where a jury was selected to hear the harrowing case.
Lee, a New Zealand citizen who was extradited from South Korea in 2022, denies the charges. The children’s remains were discovered in August 2022 inside suitcases at an abandoned Auckland storage unit, which had been sold in an online auction after Lee ceased paying rental fees. Authorities believe Lee traveled to South Korea and changed her name shortly after the alleged killings.
Prosecutors are slated to outline their case on Tuesday, with approximately 40 witnesses expected to be called over the anticipated four-week trial. Justice Geoffrey Venning, presiding over the case, has entered not guilty pleas on Lee’s behalf and indicated that the jury may be asked to consider her sanity at the time of the alleged offenses. Lee is reportedly representing herself, with standby lawyers available for assistance. The cause of the children’s deaths remains under investigation, though court documents suggest potential involvement of prescription sleeping medication.
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