The former husband of Hong Kong model and influencer Abby Choi and two members of his family appeared in court on Wednesday as prosecutors outlined allegations surrounding her killing and dismemberment in one of the city’s most closely watched murder cases.
Alex Kwong, his father Kwong Kau and his brother Anthony Kwong pleaded not guilty to murder charges before a nine-member jury, according to the court proceedings. All three defendants face the possibility of life imprisonment if convicted.
The defendants appeared calm during the hearing, as prosecutors began presenting their account of the events that led to Choi’s death in February 2023.
Choi, who was 28 when she died, had built a large following on social media and was known for her fashion appearances and luxury lifestyle posts. She had more than 140,000 followers on Instagram and had travelled to Paris for Fashion Week shortly before her death.
Her disappearance quickly became a major news story in Hong Kong. Police later discovered parts of her dismembered body at a house in a suburban area, prompting an extensive investigation and a series of arrests.
The case drew widespread attention partly because Hong Kong generally records relatively low levels of violent crime. The discovery of the remains and the circumstances alleged by prosecutors shocked residents and generated intense public interest.
Three defendants deny murder charges
The prosecution alleges that the killing involved Alex Kwong, his father and his brother, who prosecutors say worked together.
Prosecutor Charlotte Draycott told the court that the three men each played a role in what happened to Choi and in efforts to dispose of her remains.
“We say three of them decided they would do it together,” Draycott told jurors, according to the prosecution’s opening case.
The defendants are also charged with preventing the lawful burial of a body. Alex Kwong and Anthony Kwong have pleaded guilty to that separate charge.
The murder allegations remain contested, and the prosecution must prove its case during the trial before the jury.
The proceedings are expected to continue for several months, with the trial currently scheduled to run until December.
Dispute over luxury Hong Kong property
At the centre of the prosecution’s case is an alleged dispute involving a luxury property in Ho Man Tin.
Prosecutors told the court that Choi had financial disagreements with members of her former husband’s family. The dispute allegedly intensified after Choi sought to sell a luxury flat that she had purchased for about HK$60 million, equivalent to roughly US$7.65 million at the figures cited in the case.
The prosecution also told the court that Choi had previously arranged for the property to be registered in the name of her former father-in-law. Prosecutors said they believed the arrangement had been made years earlier to avoid higher taxes.
The issue became more contentious when Choi later attempted to sell the property, according to the prosecution.
Draycott said the relationship between Choi and the Kwong family began to deteriorate in 2022, when she moved towards selling the flat.
Prosecutors allege that Kwong Kau, a 68-year-old retired police sergeant, became increasingly angry about the proposed sale. They allege that he wanted to retain control of the property and ultimately decided that Choi should be killed.
The prosecution further alleges that his sons became involved in the plan.
Those allegations form a central part of the case, but they have yet to be established at trial.
Choi’s family life before her death
Choi had two children with Alex Kwong before the couple divorced. She later married businessman Chris Tam, with whom she had two more children.
Her public profile continued to grow after her divorce. She appeared at fashion events and regularly shared photographs from international trips and other aspects of her life online.
In the days before her death, Choi had posted photographs connected to Paris Fashion Week. The images presented an ordinary picture of her life shortly before her disappearance.
Her death therefore came as a shock to followers and the wider public.
Police subsequently uncovered evidence at a house in the Tai Po area, where investigators found human remains and other evidence connected to the case. The investigation led authorities to several members of the Kwong family.
The prosecution has described the suburban property as the location where Choi’s remains were taken and where efforts were allegedly made to conceal the crime.
Evidence and arguments will be tested in court
The opening stage of a criminal trial presents the prosecution’s account of events. Allegations made by prosecutors are not findings of fact unless they are established through evidence and accepted by the court.
The defence will have the opportunity to challenge the prosecution’s evidence, question witnesses and present its own case.
The trial is expected to examine the financial dispute surrounding the Ho Man Tin property, the relationship between Choi and her former in-laws, the events surrounding her disappearance and the handling of her remains after her death.
The prosecution will also have to establish the individual roles allegedly played by each defendant.
That distinction will be important because the three men face the same murder charge, while prosecutors allege that their involvement differed.
The jury will ultimately have to consider the evidence presented throughout the proceedings before reaching its verdict.
Trial expected to continue until December
The hearing was adjourned until Friday, when the court is expected to continue hearing evidence in the case.
The trial could last until December, making it one of the longest-running and most closely followed criminal proceedings arising from Choi’s death.
For Choi’s family, the proceedings will examine in detail the final days of her life and the circumstances surrounding her death. For the defendants, the case will determine whether the prosecution can prove the murder allegations beyond the required legal standard.
As evidence is presented, the court is expected to focus closely on the alleged property dispute, the actions of the three defendants and the evidence recovered during the police investigation.
The next hearings will provide further evidence about what prosecutors allege happened to Abby Choi and the separate roles they say each defendant played. What new evidence will emerge as the trial continues?