The shocking case known as the NZ Suitcase Murder has returned to court, gripping New Zealand and the world with its harrowing details. Hakyung Lee, a 44-year-old mother originally from South Korea, is accused of murdering her two young children, Yuna Jo (8) and Minu Jo (6), before hiding their bodies inside suitcases that lay undiscovered in a storage facility for four years.
The case made headlines in 2022 when unsuspecting auction buyers discovered the children’s remains while emptying an abandoned storage locker. Now, prosecutors allege that traces of the antidepressant drug Nortriptyline were found in both children’s bodies — a drug that should never be given to minors.
Lee has pleaded not guilty to two charges of murder, but admits she caused the deaths of her children. Her defense team argues she suffered from a mental breakdown following her husband’s death from cancer in 2017, claiming she acted during a period of insanity.
(Source: BBC)
Background of the NZ Suitcase Murder
The NZ Suitcase Murder is one of the most disturbing criminal cases in recent New Zealand history.
- Victims: Yuna (8) and Minu (6), Lee’s children.
- Accused: Hakyung Lee, 44, a South Korean-born New Zealand national.
- Timeline:
- 2017 → Lee’s husband diagnosed with cancer.
- November 2017 → Husband dies, Lee allegedly begins to unravel mentally.
- 2018 → Children believed to have died.
- 2022 → Bodies discovered in suitcases during a storage unit auction.
- 2022 → Lee arrested in South Korea under Interpol warrant and extradited.
- 2024 → Trial begins in Auckland.
Discovery of the Suitcases
The gruesome discovery was made on 10 August 2022, when a family purchased the contents of an abandoned storage unit for NZ$401 at auction.
Among bicycles, clothing, and household goods, the buyers found two heavy suitcases. When they tried to move them, a foul odor filled the air. At home, cutting into the plastic-wrapped luggage revealed black garbage bags, tightly tied. Inside, they found the decomposed bodies of two children.
The smell was so strong that the buyer initially thought it was “a dead rat.” What he found instead shocked the entire nation.
Forensic Findings: Antidepressants in the Children’s Bodies
At trial, prosecutors revealed that both children’s remains contained traces of Nortriptyline, an antidepressant typically prescribed for adults.
- Found in both chest cavity and liver of Yuna and Minu.
- Drug not approved for children, and in overdoses it can cause seizures, drowsiness, irregular heartbeat, or death.
- Lee herself had been prescribed Nortriptyline in 2017 to treat insomnia and dizziness after her husband’s cancer diagnosis.
This evidence suggests the children ingested the drug, either intentionally administered by Lee or mistakenly given in a lethal dose.
Prosecution’s Case
Prosecutor Natalie Walker outlined a chilling sequence of events:
- Intent and Mental State → Lee allegedly told friends and family she wanted to die if her husband died, and even said she would take her children with her.
- Drug Access → She filled her Nortriptyline prescription in August 2017.
- Actions After Deaths →
- Wrapped children’s bodies in plastic.
- Placed them in suitcases.
- Sealed with duct tape.
- Left them in storage for years.
- Deception → Lee allegedly changed her name and flew to Seoul in business class a month later.
The prosecution argues these actions show calculated planning, contradicting her defense of temporary insanity.
Defense Argument
Defense lawyer Lorraine Smith painted a picture of a grieving widow who spiraled into madness after losing her husband, Ian Jo, to cancer.
- Happy family before illness: Described as close-knit before 2017.
- Mental breakdown: After her husband’s ICU stay and death, Lee allegedly became unstable.
- Shared overdose theory: Defense claims Lee also took Nortriptyline alongside her children, but survived after miscalculating doses.
- Not guilty by reason of insanity: Defense insists Lee’s actions stemmed from a psychotic break rather than rational intent.
The jury must decide whether Lee was legally insane at the time of the killings.
Chilling Details from Witness Testimonies
The trial has revealed deeply unsettling moments:
- Lee’s text to husband: “If you die I will die along with our two kids.”
- Phone calls to her mother, sobbing: “If he dies, I will die too.”
- A comment to a friend on holiday: wishing the plane would crash so she and her children could die together.
- Statement that she would have been less sad if her children died rather than her husband.
These details illustrate her mental deterioration — but also raise the question: were these empty threats of grief, or a prelude to premeditated murder?
Arrest and Extradition
- September 2022 → Arrested in Ulsan, South Korea after Interpol issued a global red notice.
- November 2022 → Extradited back to New Zealand.
- Court proceedings → Silent during pleas, bowed head behind glass, described by witnesses as looking “sullen.”
Her demeanor in court contrasts with the brutality of the charges she faces.
Legal Questions in the NZ Suitcase Murder Trial
This trial touches on major legal debates:
- Insanity defense: Should grief-driven mental collapse excuse murder?
- Evidence reliability: With bodies so decomposed, can the cause of death be proved beyond reasonable doubt?
- Intent vs accident: Did she knowingly overdose her children, or miscalculate?
The verdict could set a precedent for how New Zealand courts handle cases involving mental illness and parental filicide.
Public Reaction
The NZ Suitcase Murder has horrified the public:
- Shock at the discovery details.
- Anger toward Lee for leaving her children in storage for years.
- Sympathy from some who believe she was mentally broken by grief.
- Debates about the adequacy of mental health support for parents under extreme stress.
The case has become a grim reminder of hidden tragedies within families.
Broader Implications
- Mental Health & Parenthood → Raises awareness about untreated depression after bereavement.
- System Failures → How did no one notice two children missing for years?
- Storage Auctions & Privacy → Highlights the dark side of abandoned storage unit sales.
Comparisons to Other High-Profile Cases
The NZ Suitcase Murder recalls several international cases where parents killed children under mental distress, such as:
- Andrea Yates (US, 2001) → Drowned her five children during postpartum psychosis.
- Gabriel Fernandez case (US, 2013) → A boy killed by abusive guardians, raising systemic failure questions.
- Japanese storage unit cases involving hidden remains.
These comparisons underline the intersection of mental illness, family tragedy, and criminal law.
What Happens Next
The trial is expected to last up to four weeks. Possible outcomes:
- Conviction for murder → Life imprisonment.
- Manslaughter or lesser charge → If jury accepts insanity plea.
- Public policy shifts → Review of mental health systems and social services in New Zealand.
Conclusion
The NZ Suitcase Murder is a case that intertwines tragedy, mental illness, and crime in one of the most disturbing trials New Zealand has ever witnessed.
While the defense portrays Hakyung Lee as a grieving mother who unraveled after her husband’s death, the prosecution insists she deliberately killed her children using a dangerous drug before hiding their bodies for years.
At its core, this trial is not only about whether Lee is guilty of murder — but also about how society understands grief, insanity, and parental responsibility.
As the world watches, the verdict will have profound consequences not just for Lee, but for the way New Zealand grapples with mental health, justice, and the protection of children.