Hakyung Lee was sentenced to at least 17 years in prison for the murders of her children Minu Jo, 6, and Yuna Jo, 8, whose bodies were found in suitcases in 2022
A monstrous Kiwi mum who killed her two children and stashed their bodies in suitcases has been sentenced to a minimum of 17 years behind bars. Hakyung Lee was handed down the sentence for the murders of her young ones, Minu Jo, six, and Yuna Jo, eight.
The ‘calculated’ mother will serve time for the horrific killings that took place in 2018, with the children’s remains hidden in suitcases until they were discovered in 2022. The grim discovery was made after Lee defaulted on rental payments for an Auckland storage unit due to financial woes, leading to its contents being sold online.
On Wednesday, November 25, a judge decreed that Lee must spend at least 17 years in prison, commencing her sentence in a secure psychiatric facility under New Zealand’s mandatory mental health treatment law.
Justice Geoffrey Venning informed Hakyung Lee during the High Court hearing in Auckland that she would be transferred back to prison once deemed fit enough. In September, Lee was convicted of the murders as the jury dismissed an insanity defence.
On Wednesday, November 25, her legal team argued for a reduced sentence citing her mental illness, stating that their client felt remorse for her heinous acts and had faced isolation and threats in jail. However, the judge ruled that despite Lee’s evident depression, her actions were ‘deliberate and calculated’, reports the Mirror.
The court learned that Lee administered antidepressant medication to the children, causing their deaths. Lawyer Lorraine Smith revealed that Lee’s mental health deteriorated following her husband’s death.
Following the killings, Lee escaped to South Korea and adopted a new identity. She holds New Zealand citizenship, having been born in South Korea, and previously went by Ji Eun Lee.
The youngsters’ uncle, Jimmy Sei Wook Jo, had a statement read out in court, saying: “I never imagined such a profound tragedy would ever befall our family. I feel like I failed to look after my niece and nephew,” local media reported. Lee’s mum also had a statement delivered by the prosecutor.
Choon Ja Lee said: “It felt like a pain that cut through my bones, or as if someone was gouging out my chest. I do not know when this pain and suffering might heal, but I often think I may carry it with me until the day I die.”
Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Va’aelua said in a statement: “Yuna and Minu would have been 16 and 13 today. Our thoughts are with the wider family today for the tragic loss of these two young children.”
Murder carries a mandatory life term in New Zealand, with judges determining a minimum 10-year period before inmates can seek parole. Following Wednesday’s proceedings, New Zealand police thanked South Korean authorities for their assistance with the investigation.
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