26 Nov 2025, 03:32
In New Zealand, a mother received a life sentence for the murder of her children
- Haking Li received a life sentence for the murder of her own children.
- The bodies of the children were found in 2022.
- Li stated that her mental state worsened after the death of a person.
The mother, who killed her two children, was sentenced to life imprisonment in New Zealand. Haking Li, a resident of New Zealand of Korean descent, was found guilty of murdering her children, which was termed "murder in the valleys."
Judge of the High Court Jeffery Vennings sentenced Li to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years, stating that she killed the children, who were "particularly vulnerable." Haking Li killed her children Minyu Jo and Yun Jo, aged six and eight, by overdosing them with prescription drugs in 2018.
The bodies of the children were discovered only in 2022, when the authorities, who purchased the contents of a packed storage unit, opened the boxes. Li, who changed her name and fled to South Korea, was extradited back to New Zealand for trial.
During the court proceedings, it was confirmed that Li's mental state worsened after the death of a person. Li claimed she wanted to kill herself and her children, giving them an incorrect dose of antidepressants, but ultimately failed to harm the children.
The accused stated that Li's actions were "egotistical" in order to free herself from the burden of single motherhood. The court described Li's treatment as "particularly selfish" during her relationship due to her mental state.
Tags: Crime