博客

A New Zealand woman, Hakyung Lee, has been sentenced to a minimum of 17 years in prison for the murder of her two children, Minu Jo, 6, and Yuna Jo, 8. The tragic case unfolded when the children’s remains were discovered in suitcases stored in an Auckland storage unit in 2022. Lee, who had fled to South Korea after the killings and changed her name, was extradited back to New Zealand to face trial. She was found guilty of murder in September 2023, with the jury rejecting her insanity defense. Justice Geoffrey Venning, presiding at the High Court in Auckland, ruled that Lee would begin her sentence in a locked psychiatric facility under New Zealand’s compulsory mental health treatment law. She will return to prison once deemed mentally stable. The judge emphasized that while Lee suffered from severe depression at the time of the murders in 2018, her actions were deliberate and calculated. Lee’s lawyers argued for a reduced sentence, citing her mental illness and the shame she felt for her crimes. However, the judge upheld the severity of the sentence, noting that a successful insanity defense requires proof of the defendant’s inability to understand their actions or their wrongfulness. The children’s remains were discovered after Lee stopped paying rental fees for the storage unit, leading to its contents being auctioned online. The buyers found the bodies and alerted authorities. During the trial, Lee’s lawyers admitted she had killed the children by administering an antidepressant medication, attributing the act to her deteriorating mental health following her husband’s death. Family members expressed their profound grief, with the children’s uncle stating he felt he had failed to protect them, and Lee’s mother describing her pain as unbearable. New Zealand police acknowledged South Korean authorities for their assistance in the investigation, while Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Va’aelua reflected on the tragic loss of the young lives.

In a decisive political stance, members of Cornell Graduate Students United (CGSU-UE Local 300) have overwhelmingly approved a referendum endorsing the Palestinian liberation struggle. The three-day voting period concluded Tuesday, with results formally announced Wednesday, marking a significant institutional shift toward activist positioning.

The union’s resolution explicitly condemns Cornell University for allegedly supporting human rights violations against Palestinians through research collaborations and financial ties to weapons manufacturers. This decision formally commits the graduate student body to joining the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which seeks to pressure Israel through non-violent economic and academic measures.

CGSU’s statement draws historical parallels, noting the BDS movement’s inspiration from anti-apartheid efforts in South Africa. The union further contextualizes Cornell’s involvement by referencing the university’s endowment origins in the sale of indigenous Cayuga Nation lands, drawing connections between historical dispossession and contemporary military research partnerships.

The resolution outlines concrete actions including demanding funding transparency for graduate assistantships, supporting members who refuse military-linked funding, and pressuring the university to protect pro-Palestinian activists from disciplinary measures. The statement additionally claims the American working class has indirectly financed Israel’s military operations through tax dollars, citing $12.5 billion in direct military aid since 2023.

This development occurs against a backdrop of heightened campus activism nationwide, with Cornell among approximately 60 institutions facing federal pressure to regulate pro-Palestinian expression. The university previously faced financial repercussions when the Trump administration threatened to withhold $1 billion in research funds, ultimately resulting in a $60 million settlement agreement announced November 7.