Abby Choi murder trial: Property dispute center of premeditated killing

The property dispute over a luxury apartment in Kowloon’s Kadoorie Hill sits at the center of the premeditated murder trial of 28-year-old Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi, as prosecutors presented voice messages, surveillance footage, and forensic evidence during the second day of proceedings at the High Court, news.ebc.net.tw reported.

Choi Registered Property Under Father-In-Law to Minimize Duty

Abby Choi purchased the luxury residence at Kadoorie Hill in 2019 to accommodate her former husband, Kwong Kong-chi, and his family, according to reporting by HK01 and Wen Wei Po cited by news.ebc.net.tw. To minimize stamp duty, Choi registered the property under the name of her former father-in-law, Kwong Kau. By the latter half of 2022, Choi planned to sell the asset to realize its cash value and arrange alternative housing for the Kwong family. Kwong Kau resisted the sale, knowing that a successful transaction would strip him of the property title and his upscale lifestyle, whereas Choi’s unexpected death would leave him in possession of the asset.

According to China Times, Choi maintained financial support for the Kwong family because they cared for the two children she shared with Kwong Kong-chi, allowing the family to act as a permanent financial beneficiary. NowNews noted that Choi possessed a net worth exceeding 100 million Hong Kong dollars, frequently wore designer haute couture, and maintained close social ties within elite circles, including friendships with Fang Yuan, the wife of singer Aaron Kwok.

Voice Messages Reveal Escalating Family Conflict

Prosecutors played a voice message recorded in October 2022 where Choi communicated in Hainan dialect with her mother, Zhang Yanhua, expressing deep anger regarding the property dispute. Choi stated that she purchased the expensive home purely for the sake of the children, while the Kwong family had contributed nothing yet acted ungratefully during the title transfer discussions, remarking that such individuals would eventually face retribution.

Advised by legal counsel that the registered owner retained the authority to withdraw authorization, Choi accelerated efforts to sell the property, urging her mother to secure Kwong Kau’s signature on authorization documents and threatening legal action. Despite obtaining the signature and attempting to attract buyers by lowering the asking price and raising agency commissions, Choi continued scheduling viewings until the days preceding her disappearance.

Kwong Family Rented Village House and Bought Tools

In early February 2023, Kwong Kau rented a remote village house in Lung Mei Tsuen, Tai Po, for 10,000 Hong Kong dollars per month to serve as the crime scene, as detailed by news.ebc.net.tw. Over subsequent weeks, the three Kwong family members procured a meat grinder, an electric saw, large stainless-steel stockpots, a refrigerator, beef knives, and protective gear.

According to United Daily News, court proceedings revealed that Kwong Kau and Kwong Kong-kit purchased items including nylon ropes, garbage bags, a large cutting board, and cooking pots, while inquiring about a bone-crusher. Kwong Kong-kit also purchased a hammer. On the day of the disappearance, Kwong Kau purchased two SIM cards from a telecommunications provider.

On February 21, 2023, Kwong Kong-kit drove Choi to the Lung Mei Tsuen property. Surveillance footage captured Kwong Kong-kit and Kwong Kong-chi meeting earlier that day to coordinate the attack. Prosecutors stated that Choi suffered fatal injuries to her head, with a cracked jaw matching the impact of a hammer recovered by police bearing Kwong Kong-chi’s DNA.

Police Find Remains and Defendants Face Murder Charges

Police discovered Choi’s remains inside the Lung Mei Tsuen property, where perpetrators used two pots to boil human tissue and obscure identification. United Daily News reported that prosecutors stated green and red radishes were added to the cooking pots to mask the foul odor, with no intention by the defendants of consuming the remains. A refrigerator contained Choi’s legs, while a large pot held her skull and shoulders.

The High Court trial involves three defendants: Kwong Kong-chi, Kwong Kau, and Kwong Kong-kit, who face charges of murder and preventing the lawful burial of a body. While Kwong Kong-kit and Kwong Kong-chi pleaded guilty to the charge of preventing the lawful burial of a body, Kwong Kau maintains a not-guilty plea on that count, and all three defendants deny the murder charge as the trial continues before a jury.

Next Judicial Actions Scheduled for Following Week

The High Court trial is set to resume next week following the conclusion of the prosecution’s opening statements, with the jury tasked with evaluating forensic evidence, witness testimonies, and surveillance exhibits to determine criminal liability for the three defendants.