Global crime and social justice updates

The trial of Hakyung Lee, a woman accused of murdering her two children and hiding their remains in suitcases, has begun in New Zealand. Lee, who was extradited from South Korea in November 2022, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of murder. The remains of her children were discovered in suitcases by a family who purchased the contents of an abandoned storage unit at an auction in Auckland. The trial is expected to last up to four weeks and will determine whether Lee was insane at the time of the killings. Lee will represent herself in court with two court-appointed lawyers acting as stand-by counsel.

An Australian woman, Erin Patterson, has been sentenced to life in prison for killing three relatives by serving them a poisonous meal containing death cap mushrooms at her home in 2023. Patterson was convicted of triple murder and attempting to murder a fourth guest who survived. The judge, Beale, emphasized that Patterson's victims were her relatives by marriage who had been good to her and her children. Patterson will be eligible for parole after 33 years. Both prosecution and defense had agreed on a life sentence, but differed on parole eligibility. Patterson has 28 days to appeal the sentence or convictions.

A New Zealand father, Tom Phillips, who had been on the run with his three children for nearly four years, was shot and killed by police on September 8, 2025. Phillips, who did not have legal custody rights, had taken the children during a custody battle and had been evading authorities since December 2021. The police had been searching for them and had offered a reward for information about their whereabouts. During the confrontation, a police officer was critically injured, and one of the children was with Phillips at the time. The other two children were found unaccompanied at a remote campsite 13 hours later. The case had captivated New Zealand, with many expressing concern for the children's welfare. The children's mother has stated that she is 'deeply relieved' that the ordeal has ended and is looking forward to welcoming them home.

A woman named Hakyung Lee is on trial in Auckland, New Zealand, accused of murdering her two children, Minu Jo and Yuna Jo, in 2018 and storing their bodies in suitcases in a storage unit. Lee, who is representing herself, denies the charges. The children's remains were discovered in August 2022 when the storage unit was auctioned off after Lee stopped paying rental fees. The trial is expected to last four weeks and will consider Lee's sanity at the time of the alleged killings.

Tom Phillips, a New Zealand father, was killed in a shootout with police on September 8, 2025, after hiding with his three children, Jayda, Maverick, and Ember, for almost four years. The family had initially gone missing in 2021, and their disappearance sparked a massive search effort. Phillips was eventually tracked down after breaking into a store, and he was killed in front of one of his children. The other two children were found alone at a remote campsite. The incident has devastated the local community and the families involved.

A drone reportedly struck the lead boat of a flotilla led by Greta Thunberg, carrying aid to the Gaza Strip, while in Tunisian waters. The 'Family Boat,' flying a Portuguese flag, was damaged, with its main deck and below-deck storage set ablaze. All six passengers and crew members are safe. The incident occurred as part of a larger mission involving 20 boats that set off from Barcelona on August 31. The Global Sumud Flotilla organization, which is leading the mission, stated that the strike would not deter them from their goal of breaking the siege on Gaza and standing in solidarity with its people. Israel had threatened to arrest and detain Thunberg and other activists, and was reportedly planning to hold them in 'terrorist-level' conditions. The incident is under investigation.

Hong Kong's housing minister, Winnie Ho Wing-yin, has pledged to adopt a more 'humane' approach to eviction cases involving tenants with mental health issues. The pledge comes after a mother and son, both suffering from mental illnesses, died by suicide following an eviction notice for their public rental flat. Ho plans to appoint more medical experts to an appeal panel, which currently has more than half of its members with a legal background. The department will review and improve its work guidelines and procedures, especially for cases involving tenants with special needs.

The article discusses the remaining comfort women survivors in Asia, 80 years after being forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. It highlights the story of 97-year-old Park Pil-geun, one of the last surviving comfort women in South Korea, and the ongoing struggles of these survivors to seek closure and justice. The issue remains a contentious topic between South Korea and Japan, with tensions rising and falling over the years. The article also touches on the different approaches taken by China and the Philippines in dealing with the comfort women issue, and how South Korea has been the most vocal in demanding justice.

Tom Phillips, a fugitive father, was shot dead by New Zealand police on Monday after a four-year standoff. Phillips had been hiding in the wilderness with his three children. Two of the children were found safe and well at a campsite in Waitomo, 11 hours after Phillips was killed. A police officer was injured in the standoff and is recovering in hospital. The police commissioner, Richard Chambers, said the children are 'doing well under the circumstances' and are now in child protective custody. The community in Piopio expressed a mix of sadness and relief over the dramatic end to the four-year saga.