HONG KONG: On the homicide trial of Abby Choi, the place her ex-husband, brother-in-law and their father stand accused, the Hong Kong Excessive Court docket heard on Friday (Oct 2) that her killing had been premeditated.
On the day prior to this, the court docket heard {that a} household feud over a luxurious condominium value HK$60 million (S$11.7 million) had been the explanation for Ms Choi’s killing.
The mannequin, socialite, and influencer who had been featured in such trend magazines as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar had gone lacking on February 21, 2023. Three days later, her headless physique was found within the Hong Kong suburb of Tai Po.
Ms Choi, a mom of 4 who was solely 28 when she was killed, was estimated to have had a web value of greater than HK$100 million (S$16.3 million).
Since her dying, seven folks have been arrested in connection together with her homicide, together with her ex-husband, Alex Kwong; his brother, Anthony Kwong; and their father, Kwong Kau. The others are Kwong Kau’s spouse, his mistress, and two of Alex Kwong’s associates.
Alex Kwong, Anthony Kwong, and Kwong Kau have all pleaded not responsible to Ms Choi’s homicide. Nonetheless, Alex and Anthony Kwong have pleaded responsible to the cost of stopping the lawful burial of a physique.
Charlotte Draycott, the lead prosecutor on the case, mentioned that round a fortnight earlier than Ms Choi was killed, Kwong Kau and Anthony Kwong purchased a number of objects linked to the killing, together with an electrical noticed, a meat mincer and deodorising provides.
Ms Draycott mentioned in addition they bought a fridge, and a few of Ms Choi’s physique components had been present in one of these equipment.
Anthony Kwong, who had additionally labored for Ms Choi as her driver, had introduced the hammer believed to have been used because the homicide weapon, and Alex Kwong allegedly borrowed the automotive by which his ex-wife was slain.
Ms Draycott was quoted in CNN as saying, “For this reason we are saying this can be a cogitated plan as every individual performed their half in getting the premises prepared.”
On Thursday, she informed the jury that “Cash appears to be the basis explanation for this case.”
The lead prosecutor mentioned that after Ms Choi and Alex Kwong separated, the connection remained on good phrases, and he or she supplied Kwong Kau and his spouse, who had been serving to maintain Ms Choi and Alex Kwong’s two youngsters, with a luxurious condominium.
In 2022, when she wished to promote the condominium and moved Kwong Kau and his spouse to a different a part of town, tensions grew between Ms Choi and the Kwongs.
As the luxurious condominium was in Kwong Kau’s identify, it might go to him within the occasion of Ms Choi’s dying, Ms Draycott informed the court docket, and he might stay there once more.
“He made a plan along with his two sons, Alex, her ex-husband, and Anthony, and we are saying three of them determined they’d do it collectively,” she added. /TISG
Learn additionally: Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi’s ex-husband, his brother & father on trial this week for her homicide