Hakyung Lee appears in the High Court in Auckland in November, 2022. Photo: RNZ / Nick Monro
*Warning: This story mentions suicide and disturbing content
A mother accused of murdering her two children and hiding their bodies in suitcases has been found guilty.
The remains of Hakyung Lee's two children, aged eight and six, were found at an Auckland storage locker when a family bought the contents in an online auction in 2022.
Police believed the children were killed in July 2018.
Hakyung Lee represented herself in court, but not in person. The 45-year-old watched the trial unfold from a separate courtroom at the High Court in Auckland, aided by her interpreter.
Lee was assisted by two standby counsel who argued she was insane at the time of the killing, which was seven months after her husband died of cancer.
Lee's standby lawyer Lorraine Smith argued the death of her husband in 2017 had triggered a "deep descent" into mental illness which made her irrationally believe the only answer was to kill herself and her children.
The Crown's position was Lee understood what she was doing and knew it was wrong.
Crown Prosecutor Natalie Walker argued that Lee's actions following the deaths of her children were calculated.
Hakyung Lee. Photo: Lawrence Smith/ Stuff Pool
Lee hid the childrens' remains, changed her name and moved to Korea.
"I suggest this shows her thinking rationally, even clinically, about taking her children's lives and then covering up her heinous crimes," Walker said while summing up the prosecution's argument.
Under the Crimes Act, a person is presumed sane until proven otherwise, and Walker argued the defence had failed to do so.
"It was a selfish act to free herself from the burden of parenting alone," Walker said.
"It was not the altruistic act of a mother who had lost her mind and believed it was the morally right thing to do, it was the opposite."
The jury, made up of six men and six women, unanimously agreed on the verdict in just under 3.5 hours.
Lee appeared downcast as Justice Venning confirmed the verdict and remanded her in custody.
She is due to reappear in the High Court at 9am on 26 November for her sentencing.
Neither the prosecution nor defence would speak to media as they left the court.
Where to get help:
- Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
- Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357.
- Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
- Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202.
- Samaritans: 0800 726 666.
- Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz.
- What's Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds.
- Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and English.
- Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254.
- Healthline: 0800 611 116.
- Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155.
- OUTLine: 0800 688 5463.
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
