Prosecutors told jurors that a financial dispute over a HK$60 million apartment and ongoing money support were the motive for the 2023 killing and dismemberment of socialite Abby Choi. Her ex-husband Alex Kwong, his brother Anthony and their father Kwong Kau have pleaded not guilty. Police recovered body parts believed to be Choi’s days after she vanished and found a meat slicer and an electric saw at a Tai Po property. The trial is expected to last at least eight weeks.
‘Money Was The Root Cause’: Prosecutors Say Financial Dispute Led To Abby Choi’s Murder
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 motive behind the 2023 killing and dismemberment of socialite Abby Choi, as the trial of her ex-husband and two in-laws opened on Wednesday.
Prosecution’s Case
In opening remarks, prosecutor Charlotte Draycott said tensions over finances — in particular Choi’s plan to sell a lavishly renovated apartment — set in motion what prosecutors describe as a family conspiracy to kill her. "Money seems to be the root cause of this case," Draycott told the nine jurors.
Choi was a mother of four children and had a significant online following - IG/@xxabbyc
Draycott said the three defendants — Choi’s ex-husband Alex Kwong, his brother Anthony Kwong and their father Kwong Kau — worked together, with each playing a role in causing Choi’s death and disposing of her body. All three pleaded not guilty.
Evidence And Timeline
Police say Choi went missing on Feb. 21, 2023. Three days later, body parts believed to be hers were recovered at a house in Tai Po district, where investigators also found a meat slicer, an electric saw and some clothing.
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. - Tyrone Siu/Reuters
Courtroom testimony outlined how the apartment at the center of the dispute — reportedly valued at HK$60 million (about $7.6 million) and registered in the name of Kwong Kau — became a flashpoint after Choi sought to sell it and relocate her former in-laws away from the city centre so her children could attend school.
Background
The court heard that Choi, who was born on the southern Chinese island of Hainan and moved to Hong Kong at age five, had been a familiar face at fashion events and maintained a sizable online following (IG: @xxabbyc). She and Alex married in 2014 and had two children together; Choi was a mother of four in total.
Draycott told jurors that during the marriage Alex had no job and was financially dependent on Choi’s family. After their separation, Choi continued to support the Kwong family financially and provided what the prosecutor described as a "generous allowance." Tensions escalated in 2022 when Choi sought to sell the apartment and apparently clashed with Kwong Kau, a retired police sergeant.
What’s Next
The trial is due to continue on Friday and is expected to last at least eight weeks.
Note: The defendants have pleaded not guilty and the allegations described here reflect the prosecution’s opening case.
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