Hakyung Lee Receives Life Sentence for Murder of Children in New Zealand
Hakyung Lee, 45, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murders of her two children, Yuna Jo, 8, and Minu Jo, 6. The sentencing occurred after her conviction in September for the killings, which took place in 2018. Lee will be required to serve a minimum of 17 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Discovery of Remains
The children's remains were discovered in 2022 by a couple who had purchased the contents of an abandoned storage unit in Auckland during an auction. The remains were found inside suitcases within the unit.
Background and Trial Proceedings
Lee's husband died of cancer in November 2017. Her defense lawyers argued during the trial that her mental health deteriorated following his death, leading her to believe that a collective family death was the optimal course of action. Lee stated she attempted to end her life and her children's lives by administering the antidepressant nortriptyline mixed in juice. She claimed a dosage error resulted in her children's deaths while she survived.
Prosecutors contended that Lee's actions constituted a deliberate effort to relieve herself of the responsibilities of single parenting.
High Court Judge Geoffrey Venning acknowledged Lee's mental health played a role in the case but characterized her actions as calculated.
Post-Crime Actions and Extradition
Following the murders, Lee changed her name and departed New Zealand. She was apprehended in South Korea, her country of birth, in September 2022 and subsequently extradited back to New Zealand later that year.
Family Statements and Mental Health Assessment
The court received statements from both Lee's and her late husband Ian Jo's families. Lee's mother, Choon Ja Lee, expressed regret over not seeking counseling for her daughter, noting Lee's reported lack of desire to live after her husband's death. Ian Jo's brother, Jimmy Jo, described the profound impact of the tragedy and stated that the children's paternal grandmother remains unaware of their deaths.
A psychiatric evaluation conducted prior to sentencing suggested that Lee was likely experiencing "atypical depression" and a prolonged grief reaction at the time of the murders. Justice Venning ordered that Lee be classified as a "special patient" during her incarceration, citing her mental state. The judge remarked that Lee appeared unable to cope after her husband's illness and may have struggled with the children serving as constant reminders of her previous life.