7 days ago
Suitcase murders-accused Hakyung Lee makes rare appearance in court
Hakyung Lee in 2022.
Photo:
RNZ / Nick Monro
A woman
accused of murdering her two children and hiding their bodies in suitcases
has made a rare in-person court appearance as her trial date nears.
Hakyung Lee's hair covered her eyes and she wore a dark grey hoodie over a grey T-shirt when she appeared for criminal callover at the High Court in Auckland on Wednesday morning.
The appearance was for a progress update ahead of her trial, which is now set to begin on 8 September.
Lee's case has moved slowly since the bodies of Yuna Jo and Minu Jo were
found in suitcases in Auckland in 2022
. Hakyung Lee was extradited from South Korea to New Zealand that same year, with her trial originally set for April of last year.
Justice Downs thanked Lee for appearing in person.
"I know the court is not your favourite place," he said.
He told Lee her lawyers were working hard to make sure her trial would go ahead without another delay.
"I am relieved to tell you progress is being made," he said.
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