• Hakyung Lee stands trial in New Zealand for murdering her children, found in suitcases.
• The trial opened following the discovery of the children’s remains in 2022.
• Lee has entered a not guilty plea but plans to represent herself.
• The children's causes of death remain undetermined, but medication may be implicated.

The high-profile trial of Hakyung Lee, accused of murdering her two children and concealing their remains in suitcases, commenced in New Zealand. Lee, 44, is charged with the killings of six-year-old Minu Jo and eight-year-old Yuna Jo in 2018, shortly after their father's death from cancer. The bodies were discovered in August 2022 after a family bought a storage unit in Auckland at auction, bringing home unexpected and tragic contents, according to BBC and Channel News Asia.

Upon moving to South Korea following her husband's death, Lee lived under an assumed identity until her arrest in Ulsan in September 2022, incited by a global red notice from Interpol. Extradited to New Zealand in November 2022, she has pleaded not guilty, with Justice Geoffrey Venning recording her silence as such during the trial proceedings. It is notable that Lee has opted to represent herself, but standby legal counsel is available, according to South China Morning Post and CBS News.

The prosecution plans to present evidence over the trial's anticipated four-week duration, including testimonies from at least 40 witnesses. The cause of the children's death remains unknown; however, reports suggest that prescription sleeping medication might be linked, particularly as it was found in their systems, according to Channel News Asia and CBS News. Justice Venning indicated that the defense may explore Lee's mental state regarding the time of the alleged offenses, hinting at potential insanity claims, as indicated by court documents.