A mother from New Zealand has been sentenced to a minimum of 17 years in prison for the murder of her two children, six-year-old Minu Jo and eight-year-old Yuna Jo. Hakyung Lee was found guilty of killing her children in 2018 and concealing their bodies in suitcases, which were discovered in 2022 after she failed to pay rental fees for a storage unit in Auckland.
The judge ruled on Wednesday that Lee will serve at least 17 years behind bars, initially in a secure psychiatric facility as mandated by New Zealand’s mental health treatment law. Despite arguments from her lawyers citing mental health issues, the judge emphasized that Lee’s actions were intentional and premeditated.
Lee administered antidepressant medication to her children to end their lives, a fact revealed during the court proceedings. Following the murders, she fled to South Korea and changed her name from Ji Eun Lee to evade detection.
Statements from the children’s uncle and Lee’s mother expressed profound grief and anguish over the tragic events. The uncle mentioned feeling a sense of failure for not protecting his niece and nephew, while Lee’s mother described the unbearable pain caused by the loss.
Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Va’aelua expressed condolences to the family, highlighting that the children would have been teenagers today. The murder conviction in New Zealand carries an automatic life sentence, with a minimum imprisonment term of 10 years before eligibility for parole.
Acknowledgment was given to South Korean authorities for their assistance in the investigation.