New Zealand: Mother on trial in over suitcase murders of her children

The trial of a woman accused of murdering her two young children and concealing their remains in suitcases has opened in New Zealand, in a case that has gripped the nation with its grim details and international dimensions.

Hakyung Lee, 43, who was extradited from South Korea in late 2022, is facing two counts of murder. She has pleaded not guilty to both charges.

The proceedings, which began on Monday in the Auckland High Court, are expected to stretch over four weeks, drawing intense public and media attention.

The case first came to light in August 2022, when an unsuspecting family bought the contents of an abandoned storage unit at an auction in South Auckland.

Among the assorted belongings were two suitcases, inside which the decomposed remains of two children were found.

The discovery horrified the country and led to a transnational manhunt that culminated in Lee’s arrest in Ulsan, South Korea, three months later.

Authorities believe the children, thought to have been between five and ten years old at the time of their deaths, had been dead for several years before their remains were discovered.

Police have not released their names, citing cultural sensitivities and respect for surviving relatives.

In her opening remarks, Justice Sarah Morgan reminded the jury of 12 that they must put aside the extraordinary media coverage surrounding the case and focus solely on the evidence presented in court.

“Your role is not to speculate, nor to be swayed by emotion or public opinion,” she said.

“This trial is about facts, and the law requires you to test the prosecution’s case against the presumption of innocence.”

Prosecutors are expected to lay out their case beginning Tuesday, presenting forensic evidence, witness testimony, and records relating to the storage facility where the remains were kept.

According to court filings, the Crown will argue that Lee deliberately killed her children before moving their bodies into long-term storage.

Defence lawyers, meanwhile, have maintained that Lee had no involvement in the deaths and has been wrongly accused. In pre-trial hearings, her counsel suggested that other individuals may have had access to the children before their disappearance.

The grim discovery drew widespread outrage and sorrow across New Zealand, a country unused to cases of this nature.

Prime Minister at the time, Jacinda Ardern, described the news as “unfathomable,” adding that every parent in the country would feel “a deep sadness and empathy.”

The case also raised questions about international cooperation in criminal investigations. South Korean authorities swiftly arrested Lee after Interpol issued a red notice at New Zealand’s request.

Following a lengthy extradition process, she was flown to Auckland under police escort in November 2022.

As the trial gets underway, the courtroom has been packed with journalists, members of the public, and relatives of the deceased children. Outside the court, floral tributes have occasionally been placed in memory of the victims, though the family has asked for privacy during the proceedings.

Legal analysts say the case will hinge heavily on forensic timelines and the ability of the prosecution to link Lee directly to the deaths, given the years that have passed since the children were last seen alive.

“This is one of the most disturbing cases New Zealand has seen in recent memory,” said criminal law professor Michael Taylor.

“But the challenge for the Crown will be in bridging the evidentiary gaps caused by time and the condition of the remains.”

The trial continues on Tuesday with the Crown’s opening arguments, after which the jury will hear from a series of expert witnesses, including pathologists and forensic storage specialists.

If convicted, Lee faces life imprisonment.