The trial concerning the death of socialite Abby Choi Tin-fung has revealed new details about her financial ties to her ex-husband and forensic evidence linking an electric saw to her dismembered remains. The hearing took place at a court in Hong Kong, where Alex Kwong Kong-chi, along with his father Kwong Kau and elder brother Anthony Kwong Kong-kit, faces charges related to Choi’s murder in February 2023.
During testimony, Chan Leong-hang, an employee at Aristo Watch & Jewellery in Tsim Sha Tsui, stated that Alex Kwong had sold high-end watches to the store and requested that a portion of the proceeds be transferred to Choi. Chan confirmed that the company made a bank transfer of HK$6 million to Choi’s account following the sale of a luxury watch by Kwong in October 2021. He also recalled Kwong selling a Richard Mille watch valued at HK$10.5 million and directing part of the profits to his former partner. Describing Kwong as a shrewd buyer who compared prices across shops, Chan said the company negotiated terms to close deals with him.
The defendants are accused of murdering the 28-year-old influencer amid a family dispute involving the planned sale of a HK$72 million apartment in Ho Man Tin. Kwong Kau, a retired police sergeant, is additionally charged with preventing the lawful burial of Choi’s body, a charge to which his two sons have already pleaded guilty.
Choi’s mother, Cheung Yin-fia, has alleged that the Kwong family was dependent on her family’s wealth in the period leading up to the murder and accused Alex Kwong of being unemployed and deceitful about financially supporting her daughter.
In his defense, Alex Kwong’s lawyer, Andrew Raffell, argued that Kwong had legitimately earned substantial income through reselling watches to affluent clients in mainland China and had shared profits with Choi. Cross-examination revealed that Kwong had introduced numerous buyers to the watch shop, though the witness was unaware that Kwong was conducting a business. Raffell also sought to establish that Kwong assisted former relatives by sending friends to the store, a claim Chan denied. An altercation involving a cheque intended to settle management fees for the Kadooria flat, with Kwong Kau allegedly seizing the cheque, was also discussed.
Prosecutors presented forensic evidence from senior government chemist Dr Tam Cheok-ning, who specializes in video and tool mark analysis. Dr Tam testified that a cut mark found on Choi’s spine was consistent with the blade of one of two electric saws recovered from the flat where her body was found. Dismembered parts of Choi’s body had been discovered in a rented flat in Lung Mei village, Tai Po, including her head and legs, with some bones still attached.
Although the murder and disposal of the body were not captured on security cameras, prosecutors cited footage showing three men carrying a heavy plastic box into the flat on February 21, 2023. Dr Tam stated that the boxes recovered were consistent with the ones seen in the video. He added that during a police reenactment, two male officers could carry the stacked boxes into the property while a female officer, larger than Choi, was placed inside one box.
The flat’s landlady, Hui Yan-yan, testified that Kwong Kau had agreed to rent the Tai Po property for HK$10,000 a month in early February 2023, intending it as a retirement residence with his wife. He had mentioned that his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren would be living elsewhere in Mong Kok and had specifically inquired about surveillance cameras inside the flat.
The trial is ongoing before Deputy Judge Brian Keith and a nine-member jury.