Socialite Abby Choi Killed After Luxury Apartment Dispute

The murder trial of Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi opened at the High Court, where prosecutors alleged her former husband and in-laws meticulously planned her killing following a bitter dispute over a luxury apartment valued at HK$72 million.

Abby Choi, a 28-year-old model and online influencer, had purchased the flat in 2019 for HK$60 million, approximately £6.9m or $7.6 million, but registered it under the name of her former father-in-law, Kwong Kau, to avoid higher stamp duty. Prosecutors told the court the root of the tragedy lay in a financial contrast and a property dispute involving the residence at the Kadooria residential estate in Ho Man Tin.

Choi had separated from her ex-husband, Alex Kwong, and later married a partner from an extremely wealthy family. She continued to provide financial support to the Kwong family, who prosecutors noted were not wealthy, letting Kwong Kau live in the high-value property and employing Alex Kwong’s brother, Anthony Kwong, as her personal driver.

Relations soured in 2022 when Choi decided to sell the luxury apartment and relocate her former in-laws to an area further from downtown so her children could attend school nearby. Kwong Kau grew extremely resentful and angry over the plan, according to the prosecution. He initially refused to sign the paperwork, and on one occasion, lunged at Choi in an apparent attempt to strike her before being restrained.

Property Dispute Sparked Fatal Plot

Prosecutor Charlotte Draycott SC detailed an ominous shopping trip conducted weeks before Choi went missing on February 21, 2023. Kwong Kau and Anthony Kwong visited multiple shops to purchase items intended for the killing and subsequent disposal of the victim’s remains, including an electric saw, a meat mincer, a refrigerator, a large chopping board, a giant saucepan, and deodorizing supplies.

The family rented a village house in the Tai Po district, which prosecutors described as having been turned into a makeshift butchery site. This is why we say this is a cogitated plan as each person played their part in getting the premises ready, Draycott told the court.

If she died, the flat would be in his name and he could move back there. He made a plan with his two sons Alex, her ex-husband, and Anthony, and we say three of them decided they would do it together.

Charlotte Draycott, Prosecutor

Car Journey Led to Tai Po Attack

On February 21, 2023, Choi believed she was taking a routine car journey to pick up her daughter from school. CCTV footage captured Anthony and Alex Kwong meeting at a Starbucks shortly before the scheduled school run, where Anthony made gestures indicating how to pull someone down. Anthony then picked up Choi, while Alex joined the vehicle at another location.

During the drive, Choi exchanged text messages with her mother-in-law until the messages stopped abruptly at 2:44 p.m. Choi was struck with a hammer inside the vehicle during the trip, suffering savage head injuries, prosecutors stated. Authorities discovered parts of her dismembered body three days later inside the rental home in Tai Po, where an electric saw and a meat slicer were also recovered. A cooking pot held a skull, ribs, and hair.

Defendants Enter Pleas as Trial Continues

Alex Kwong, his brother Anthony Kwong, and their father Kwong Kau are standing trial at Hong Kong’s High Court before a nine-person jury and Judge Brian Keith. All three defendants pleaded not guilty to murder. Kwong Kau denied all charges against him, while his two sons admitted to a separate charge of preventing the lawful burial of a body.

The proceedings draw large crowds outside the courtroom, with a live broadcast arranged for observers unable to secure entry. The trial is scheduled to last approximately eight weeks.