The murder trial of Hong Kong model and socialite Abby Choi has begun more than three years after her death shocked the city, with her former husband and two members of his family facing life imprisonment if convicted.
Choi, 28, was found to have been brutally killed and dismembered in February 2023, after police discovered her partial remains at a village house in Tai Po.
Her former husband, Alex Kwong, along with his father Kwong Kau and brother Anthony Kwong, are accused of murdering her. All three also face a charge of preventing the lawful burial of a body.
The trial began on Monday and is expected to last around 45 days. The three defendants appeared in court wearing masks, with Kwong Kau dressed in a white T-shirt while his sons wore suits.
Police discovered Choi’s remains on February 24, 2023, at a flat rented by her former father-in-law. Her legs were found inside a refrigerator, while her head was later discovered inside a cooking pot.
Investigators described the property as having been deliberately arranged as a site for dismembering a body. Police said tools including meat grinders, chainsaws, raincoats, gloves and masks were found inside.
A seven-seater vehicle linked to Kwong’s brother was also examined by investigators, with a court previously hearing that bloodstains inside the vehicle belonged to Choi. Her skull and legs were also linked to the Tai Po property.
Choi had married Alex Kwong in 2012 when she was 18, before the couple later divorced. Despite the divorce, reports said she continued providing financial support to her former husband and his parents.
Authorities have previously said they believed the killing was linked to a financial dispute involving a property worth around £10.7 million that Choi had planned to sell.
Kwong was arrested after allegedly attempting to flee Hong Kong by speedboat following the discovery of Choi’s remains. He was reportedly found carrying around £50,000 in cash and luxury watches worth more than £400,000.
Choi had more than 80,000 Instagram followers and was known for her modelling career and connections with celebrities. She had appeared on the cover of a magazine in Monaco just one week before her death.
All three defendants deny the murder charges. If convicted, they face life imprisonment.
