ABBY CHOI MURDER TRIAL BEGINS MORE THAN THREE YEARS AFTER MODEL’S DEATH

More than three years after Hong Kong model and socialite Abby Choi was reported missing, her former husband and two members of his family have gone on trial in connection with her death.

Alex Kwong, his father Kwong Kau and his brother Anthony Kwong appeared in Hong Kong court on September 21 as the long-awaited murder trial began.

All three men face a joint charge of murder as well as charges related to preventing the lawful burial of Choi’s body. If convicted of murder, they face the possibility of life imprisonment.

MODEL DISAPPEARED IN FEBRUARY 2023

Choi, a 28-year-old model, socialite and mother of four, was reported missing on February 21, 2023.

She had built a large following through social media and regularly appeared at fashion events around the world. Just days before her disappearance, she had attended Paris Fashion Week, where she shared photographs from a Dior show.

She had two children with Alex Kwong before their divorce and later married her second husband, Chris Tam, with whom she had two more children.

Three days after Choi was reported missing, police discovered human remains at a rented village house in Tai Po, Hong Kong.

Her legs were found inside a refrigerator, while other remains, including a skull and ribs, were recovered from a large cooking pot.

Police also found items including an electric saw and a meat slicer at the property. Investigators subsequently searched other locations, including a landfill, for additional evidence and remains.

EX-HUSBAND ARRESTED AFTER MANHUNT

Police arrested Choi’s former husband shortly after the discovery of her remains.

Alex Kwong was detained at a ferry pier while allegedly attempting to leave Hong Kong by sea, according to previous reports.

His father, Kwong Kau, and brother, Anthony Kwong, were also arrested and later charged in connection with the case.

Prosecutors have previously suggested that a financial or property dispute involving Choi and her former husband’s family could have been connected to the alleged killing. That remains an allegation to be examined during the trial.

THREE MEN NOW FACE A JURY

The three defendants appeared in court wearing masks as proceedings began.

The court is expected to hear evidence over approximately 45 days, with jury proceedings continuing into the coming months.

The prosecution is expected to present evidence concerning Choi’s final movements, the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and the discovery of her remains.

The trial is also expected to examine the relationship between Choi and her former husband, as well as the alleged financial dispute that investigators previously identified as a possible motive.

A large number of people gathered outside the court as the proceedings began, reflecting the continuing public interest in one of Hong Kong’s most widely reported murder cases in recent years. A live broadcast arrangement was also made for people unable to enter the courtroom.

A CASE THAT SHOCKED HONG KONG

Choi’s death attracted international attention because of both her public profile and the circumstances in which investigators discovered her remains.

She had been a familiar figure at international fashion events and on social media, where she documented her work and appearances.

Her disappearance and subsequent death became one of the most closely followed criminal investigations in Hong Kong.

More than three years later, the case has finally reached trial.

For now, Alex Kwong, Kwong Kau and Anthony Kwong remain defendants rather than convicted killers. The prosecution must prove the charges in court, and the jury will ultimately determine whether the allegations have been established beyond the required legal standard.

The trial is expected to reveal further evidence about what happened to Abby Choi in the final days of her life.