A father and his two sons have gone on trial in Hong Kong accused of murdering and dismembering model and influencer Abby Choi, whose remains were found at a suburban house in February 2023.
Alex Kwong, Ms Choi’s former husband, his father Kwong Kau and his brother Anthony Kwong all pleaded not guilty to murder charges before a nine-person jury on Wednesday.
Police found Ms Choi’s legs in a refrigerator at the property in Lung Mei Tsuen. Her skull and several ribs were discovered inside a soup pot.
The defendants, who appeared calm in court, also face allegations of preventing the lawful burial of a body. Alex Kwong and Anthony Kwong pleaded guilty to that charge.
Prosecutors said the alleged killing followed a financial dispute involving a luxury flat bought by Ms Choi for HK$60 million (£5.9 million; $7.65 million).
Ms Choi had previously registered the property in the name of her former father-in-law, prosecutors said, in an attempt to avoid higher taxes. The relationship between her and the Kwong family was said to have deteriorated in 2022 when she tried to sell the flat.
Prosecution lawyer Charlotte Draycott told the jury that Kwong Kau, a 68-year-old retired police sergeant, became “extremely resentful and angry” over the proposed sale.
The prosecution alleges that he decided to kill Ms Choi because he wanted to retain the property, and that he and his sons acted together.
“We say three of them decided they would do it together,” Ms Draycott said, adding that each defendant “played a part” in Ms Choi’s death and the disposal of her body.
Ms Choi, 28, had more than 140,000 Instagram followers and had shared photographs from Paris Fashion Week only days before her death. Her final post featured a photoshoot for L’Officiel Monaco.
She had two children with Alex Kwong before divorcing him and later marrying Chris Tam, with whom she had two more children.
Mr Tam said he was grateful to have had Ms Choi in his life and described her as supportive, according to her friend Pao Jo-yee. “When Abby was alive, she’s a very kind person and always wanted to help people,” he said. “I feel anyone who could be her family and friends are blessed.”
Ms Pao said she had known Ms Choi for more than seven years and described her as someone who treated people well. “She is that type of person that wouldn’t have enemies,” she said.
Another friend, Mr Cheng, said Ms Choi had enjoyed good relationships with her family and would travel with the families of both her current and former husbands.
The case, which has drawn widespread attention in Hong Kong, was adjourned until Friday and is expected to continue until December. The three defendants face life in prison if convicted.
