Abby Choi, a 28-year-old model and social media star, was allegedly killed and dismembered in Hong Kong by her ex-husband and his family following a dispute over the sale of a flat. Her head was later found “cooked” in soup, prosecutors say.
Dispute over flat sale
Choi died in Hong Kong in February 2023. Her skull was later recovered from a carrot and vegetable soup, and her legs were found in a fridge, according to police. Her ex-husband Alex Kwong, his father Kwong Kau, and his brother Anthony Kwong are now on trial, accused of her murder. All three deny killing her.
Prosecutors said the dispute centred on a flat Choi had bought for her former in-laws. She had purchased the property for Alex Kwong’s parents and allowed them to remain there after the couple separated. The flat was registered in Kwong Kau’s name to avoid second-home stamp duty.
Alleged murder plot
The prosecution case is that relations deteriorated when Choi decided she wanted to sell the property in 2022. Kwong Kau initially resisted signing the necessary documents, prosecutors said, but eventually agreed after Choi threatened legal action. Prosecutors allege Kwong Kau then devised a plan to stop the sale by killing her, with Alex Kwong and Anthony Kwong accused of joining the plot.
The court heard that Choi had married Alex Kwong when she was 18, and they had two children together. She later remarried restaurant tycoon Chris Tam Fong-chun and had two more children with him. Chris was described as “extremely wealthy”, and prosecutors suggested jealousy over the wealth of Choi’s family and new husband formed part of the background to the case.
Trial details
Alex Kwong, Anthony Kwong, and Kwong Kau are all being tried for murder under the principle of joint enterprise. Alex and Anthony have admitted preventing the lawful burial of her body, while Kwong Kau denies that offence. All three deny murder and could face life imprisonment if convicted.
The trial began on Monday and is expected to run for around 45 days. Alex Kwong was arrested after allegedly attempting to leave Hong Kong by speedboat. Police also seized a blood-stained seven-seater vehicle during the investigation. The court previously heard that blood recovered from Anthony Kwong’s car was matched to Choi. Remains recovered from a property in Tai Po, including a skull and legs, were also identified as hers.
Choi had more than 80,000 followers on Instagram and had appeared on the cover of a magazine in Monaco shortly before her death.
