Prosecutors say a dispute over money — notably a HK$60 million apartment — was the motivating factor in the 2023 murder and dismemberment of Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi. Her ex-husband Alex Kwong, his brother Anthony and their father Kwong Kau have pleaded not guilty. Police recovered body parts and cutting tools in Tai Po days after Choi went missing on 21 February 2023. The trial is due to run for at least eight weeks.
Money Was the 'Root Cause' in Hong Kong Socialite Abby Choi's Murder, Prosecutors Say
Abby Choi pictured on Feb. 11, 2023, in Hong Kong. (AP Photo) - AP
Prosecutors told a Hong Kong court that a family dispute over money was the driving force behind the brutal 2023 killing and dismemberment of socialite Abby Choi, as the trial of her ex-husband and two in-laws opened.
Trial Overview
On the first day of the trial, all three defendants — Alex Kwong (Choi's ex-husband), his brother Anthony Kwong, and their father Kwong Kau — entered not-guilty pleas. Prosecutor Charlotte Draycott told a nine-member jury that disputes about a luxury apartment and ongoing financial support created bitter tensions that culminated in an alleged family plot to kill Choi.
Choi was a mother of four children and had a significant online following - IG/@xxabbyc
What the Prosecution Alleges
Draycott emphasised a sharp wealth gap between Choi and the Kwong family and said Choi had been providing substantial financial help to them, including a HK$60 million apartment registered in Kwong Kau's name. She said the relationship soured in 2022 when Choi attempted to sell the flat and to move her former in-laws farther from the city centre so her children could attend different schools.
"Money seems to be the root cause of this case," Draycott told jurors.
Background and Timeline
Choi, born on Hainan island and raised in Hong Kong from age five, was a socialite and influencer with a sizable online following. She had four children, two of them with Alex Kwong. She met Alex while still at school and the couple married in 2014; prosecutors said Alex relied financially on Choi's family during the marriage.
Police excavate a landfill during a search for the missing parts of 28-year-old model Abby Choi's body in Hong Kong, China February 28, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu - Tyrone Siu/Reuters
Police say Choi went missing on 21 February 2023. Three days later, body parts believed to be hers were recovered from a house in Tai Po district, where officers also found a meat slicer, an electric saw and clothing items. Authorities arrested the Kwongs soon afterwards.
Alleged Motive and Conspiracy
Prosecutors say Kwong Kau feared losing the apartment and proposed that if Choi were dead the flat would remain in his name and he could move back. Draycott told the jury that Kwong Kau conspired with his sons, and that each played a role in causing Choi's death and disposing of her body.
Defence And Next Steps
The three defendants have pleaded not guilty and the defence will present their case in due course. The trial is scheduled to continue and is expected to last at least eight weeks.
Key facts: the prosecution's case centres on alleged financial motive and family conspiracy; evidence recovered at the Tai Po property includes human remains and cutting tools; and the trial will examine whether the three defendants acted together.
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