New Zealand: Mother appears in court on alleged suitcase murders

CNN —

A mother-of-two whose remains were found in suitcases earlier this year was charged with murder in a New Zealand court on Wednesday.

The 42-year-old woman was remanded in custody by Manukau District Court in Auckland, CNN affiliate Radio New Zealand reported.

The court ordered their identities and those of the victims to be kept secret from the public.

New Zealand police launched a murder investigation in August after the remains were discovered in suitcases bought by a family at an online auction in South Auckland.

Earlier, police said the children were likely between the ages of 5 and 10 and may have been dead for around three to four years.

According to South Korean police, the woman was born in South Korea and is a New Zealand citizen.

She was arrested in South Korea in September before being extradited to New Zealand on Tuesday, authorities said.