The skull of Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi was found boiled in carrot soup after she was dismembered, a court in Hong Kong heard as the trial into her murder began. Choi, 28, an online influencer and international model, disappeared in February 2023 following a trip to Paris Fashion Week. Prosecutors allege she was killed by her ex-husband, Alex Kwong Kong-chi, 31, and his family amid a dispute over the sale of a multimillion-pound luxury property.
At the opening of the trial in Hong Kong’s High Court, the prosecution revealed that Choi’s head was discovered cooked in a pot of stew, while her legs were found stored in a refrigerator within a low-cost rented flat in the New Territories. Police seized tools including an electric saw, cleavers, a hammer, and a meat grinder allegedly used to mutilate her body. Items belonging to Choi, such as her handbag and credit cards, were also recovered at the scene.
Alex Kwong, his elder brother Anthony Kwong Kong-kit, and their father Kwong Kau all deny charges of murder. However, the brothers have pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful burial of a body, while their father denies this charge. The prosecution is pursuing a joint enterprise murder case, asserting that all three men were involved in the killing. “We say the three of them decided they would do it together,” lead prosecutor Charlotte Draycott SC stated.
Choi’s relationship with Alex Kwong began when they married at age 18 and had two children. She came from a wealthy family and had purchased a £5.75 million flat, which she placed in her father-in-law’s name, reportedly to avoid stamp duty on a second home. After their separation, the children remained in the care of Kwong’s parents, who continued residing in the flat. Disputes arose when Choi sought to sell the property in 2022, leading to a conflict between her and her father-in-law, who initially refused to sign sale documents before yielding under legal pressure.
Police officers characterized the financial disagreements as a possible motive for the murder. “Someone was dissatisfied with how the victim handled her assets, which became a motive to kill,” said Superintendent Alan Chung. Choi’s remains were initially discovered in a flat near the Tai Po waterfront, rented by her father-in-law and prepared as a makeshift butchery, complete with plastic sheeting on the walls and protective clothing worn by the suspects to avoid staining from the dismemberment.
The trial is ongoing, with the prosecution expected to present further evidence in the coming sessions.