A woman accused of murdering her two children and hiding their remains in suitcases is going on trial in New Zealand, a case that has shocked the nation.
Hakyung Lee, extradited from South Korea to New Zealand in November 2022, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of murder.
The remains of her children were discovered in suitcases by a family who purchased the contents of an abandoned storage unit at an auction in Auckland. The bodies were believed to have been stored for several years.
Ms. Lee, 44, is a New Zealand national born in South Korea, reportedly living in Auckland for several years prior to the alleged crime. The children's father passed away from cancer in 2017, with reports indicating that the children died sometime thereafter—varying ages suggest they were between six to ten at the time of death.
According to South Korean authorities, Ms. Lee left New Zealand for South Korea in 2018. The discovery of the children's remains occurred in August 2022 when a family bought a haul of goods, including the suitcases, in an online auction, part of a strategy to clear abandoned items.
Local media reported that the family had no prior connection with the children or the circumstances surrounding their deaths. After a global red notice was issued by Interpol, Ms. Lee was arrested in Ulsan, South Korea, in September 2022.
Furthermore, the identities of the children remain undisclosed due to suppression orders requested by their extended family members.
