Hong Kong court hears property dispute preceded Abby Choi murder trial

A Hong Kong court has heard that a dispute over the proposed sale of a HK$72 million flat preceded the alleged murder of socialite Abby Choi Tin-fung. Prosecutors began opening statements on Wednesday in the High Court trial, which is expected to last eight weeks. Choi, who was 28, was killed in February 2023 and her body was dismembered and disposed of at a village house in Tai Po, the court heard.

The prosecution alleges that Choi’s former father-in-law, Kwong Kau, became extremely resentful after she insisted on selling the luxury property where he lived. Prosecutor Charlotte Draycott said Choi had paid most of the cost of the flat in 2019 but registered Kwong as its legal owner to avoid significant stamp duty. According to the prosecution, Kwong initially refused to sign a power of attorney allowing Choi to negotiate with property agents.

Draycott also told the court that he had previously lost his temper and lunged at Choi before being restrained. Choi’s former husband, Alex Kwong, and his elder brother, Anthony Kwong, have pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful burial of her body. Their father has pleaded not guilty to that charge.

All three deny murdering Choi. The prosecution alleges that the family dispute reached a decisive point in 2023, when Kwong Kau concluded that killing Choi was the only way to keep the flat. The court also heard excerpts from private audio messages in which Choi spoke angrily about her former in-laws and said she had continued supporting the family after divorcing Alex.

A new nine-member jury, comprising eight men and one woman, was sworn in for the trial. A previous jury was discharged after one member sought to withdraw for health reasons. The prosecution’s opening statement is expected to continue on Friday.