A 42-year-old mother extradited from South Korea appeared in a New Zealand court for the first time on Wednesday, facing murder charges after the remains of her two children were found in suitcases in Auckland.
Wearing a beige jacket and black T-shirt, the woman appeared briefly at Manukau District Court, south Auckland, a day after landing in the country.
For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Court suppression orders bar the media from naming the woman or her deceased children. But Judge Gus Andrée Wiltens allowed reporting of the fact that she is their mother.
The suspect, who faces two counts of murder, was remanded in custody without making a plea until her next appearance at Auckland High Court on December 14.
Through an interpreter, she asked to address the judge, but her own lawyer stepped in saying: “I think it would be best if perhaps she didn’t.”
The judge agreed and the defendant was led out of court.
The hearing took place less than 24 hours after the defendant flew into Auckland airport under police escort after being extradited from South Korea.
She was arrested by Korean police in the port city of Ulsan in September, a month after New Zealand police discovered the remains of her two children, aged between five and 10.
At the time of her arrest, the suspect repeatedly told reporters: “I didn’t do it” as she was led into a police vehicle.
The children’s bodies were found after an unsuspecting family bought the suitcases at an online auction of abandoned goods.
New Zealand police have said the bodies were likely in storage for several years, which had complicated the investigation.
Authorities have stressed that the family who found the bodies were not connected to the homicides and have been given counselling to help deal with the trauma.
Read more:
Suitcase murder suspect extradited from South Korea to New Zealand
Also Read
-
New Zealand confirms identities of children found in suitcases
New Zealand has confirmed the identities of two children whose remains were found stuffed inside suitcases, but their names will not be made public at ... World News -
South Korea police arrest woman charged with murdering two children found in suitcase
South Korean police arrested a woman on Thursday charged with murdering what is believed to be her two children whose remains were found in suitcases ... World News -
Suitcase murder suspect extradited from South Korea to New Zealand
A 42-year-old woman has been extradited from South Korea to New Zealand, where she will appear in court Wednesday charged with murdering two children ... World News
