NZ - Two Children's Remains Found in Suitcases Bought at Auction - Auckland *Mother Arrested*

[SouthAussie]

Just looking at the school terms for NZ in 2018. The school term didn't end until 6th July in 2018, so maybe the last day the children were in school was Friday 22nd June and maybe the mother took off (childless) for Korea on Thursday 28th June 2018. And that is how the police have narrowed down the date of when the children died.

imo

School terms and holidays archive

State and state-integrated school term and holiday information from 1986 to 2023.

www.education.govt.nz

 

[Kemug]

So maybe she killed them (if she did) because for some reason she wanted to go back to South Korea, but not take them.

 

[Kemug]

Maybe she had a husband in SK who hadn't come to NZ, and it would have brought shame to the family to produce 2 children who weren't his.

 

[SouthAussie]

Maybe she had a husband in SK who hadn't come to NZ, and it would have brought shame to the family to produce 2 children who weren't his.

Her husband (and/or the children's father) died in NZ on 22nd Nov 2017. About 7 months before the children both died.
Presuming he was her husband, but possibly he might have been the children's father but the parents were not married? Seeing that her name is Hakyung Lee and his surname, like the children's, was Jo.

He is noted on the children's Find A Grave listings, and if you follow the link (his name) you can see his death date.

Minu Jo (2012-2018) - Find a Grave Memorial

Children whose bodies were found in suitcases can be named Catrin Owen Sep 25 2023 The two children whose bodies were found in suitcases in an Auckland storage locker in 2022 can now be named. Minu Jo, 10, and Yuna Jo, 12, were the children of Hakyung Lee. Lee, the children's mother, has pleaded...

www.findagrave.com

 

[Dotta]

Her husband (and/or the children's father) died in NZ on 22nd Nov 2017. About 7 months before the children both died.

He is noted on the children's Find A Grave listings, and if you follow the link (his name) you can see his death date.

Minu Jo (2012-2018) - Find a Grave Memorial

Children whose bodies were found in suitcases can be named Catrin Owen Sep 25 2023 The two children whose bodies were found in suitcases in an Auckland storage locker in 2022 can now be named. Minu Jo, 10, and Yuna Jo, 12, were the children of Hakyung Lee. Lee, the children's mother, has pleaded...

www.findagrave.com

Dad died young - only 37.

 

[SouthAussie]

Dad died young - only 37.

Yes, he apparently died of cancer.

The children's father died of cancer in New Zealand in late 2017, before the children's disappearance. Link

 

[Dotta]

Yes, he apparently died of cancer.

The children's father died of cancer in New Zealand in late 2017, before the children's disappearance. Link

I see.

It might have been too much for her, meaning some kind of nervous breakdown.
Being a single mother in a foreign land.
Barely coping mentally and maybe financially.

Only speculating!!!
Not excusing!!!

But, unfortunately, sometimes life experiences break people and they commit terrible things

JMO

 

[DFWNF]

Any updates on this case?

 

[kiwi50]

Update on trial.

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[SouthAussie]

It has now been two years since these two young children's remains were found.

A new trial date has been set for Hakyung Lee - it was actually set at a hearing in May.

Lee now has a revised trial date - for double murder - set for 8th September 2025. The judge said her case will be in court every two months up until then, to make sure it is staying on track.
The trial is expected to last for four weeks.

New trial date for mother accused of murdering children, leaving bodies in suitcases

Hakyung Lee had initially been scheduled to go to trial last month.

www.nzherald.co.nz