Monday, September 8, 2025, 11:05 GMT+7

Trial begins for New Zealand woman accused of murdering her two children

A Korean-born New Zealand woman went on trial on Monday in Auckland charged with murdering her two children, whose bodies were discovered in suitcases in an abandoned storage locker after an online auction.

Trial begins for New Zealand woman accused of murdering her two children

A woman, believed to be the mother of two children whose remains were found in suitcases in New Zealand in 2022, is transported to prosecutors' office, in Ulsan, South Korea, September 15, 2022. Photo: Yonhap via Reuters

Hakyung-Lee, 44, has pleaded not guilty.

She allegedly killed her children, aged eight and six, in 2018, New Zealand media reported. Their father died of cancer in 2017, reports said, citing court filings.

Lee relocated to South Korea in 2018 and was extradited to New Zealand in November 2022.

New Zealand media reported that she sat with her head lowered for the jury selection in the High Court and did not look at those called to sit in the jury box.

She will be representing herself in court, assisted by two lawyers, reports said.

New Zealand police launched a homicide inquiry after the remains of the children were found in 2022 by a family going through the contents of a storage locker they had purchased. The family who found the bodies was not connected to the deaths.

Reuters
Comment (0)
Max: 1500 characters
Comment all (0)
Your comments will be edited before posting.
Most Popular
Latest
There are no comments yet. Be the first to comment.
Max: 1500 character
Avatar
Sign up with email
By clicking "Register" you agree to the terms of the editorial office. Register
Login
Reader information Your information will be kept secure and only used in case the editorial office needs to contact you.
Send
Close

Read more