A murder trial began Monday for the former husband and in-laws of Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi, more than three years after the discovery of her dismembered remains at a village house shocked a city where violent crime is rare.
Choi’s former husband, Alex Kwong, along with his father, Kwong Kau, and brother, Anthony Kwong, have been accused of killing her in February 2023.
The three defendants face life imprisonment if convicted of murder. They are also charged with preventing the lawful burial of a body.
Choi was 28 and known for documenting her glamorous lifestyle, including photo shoots and fashion events, on Instagram. Just days before her death, she posted about attending a Dior show during Paris Fashion Week.
The killing captured widespread attention in the Asian financial hub, which has a very low level of violent crime. Dozens of people gathered outside the courtroom before the hearing, while a live broadcast was arranged for those unable to enter.
All three defendants wore masks and appeared calm in court. Kwong Kau wore a white T-shirt, while his two sons were dressed in suits.
Police said in 2023 that they discovered some of Choi’s body parts inside a unit in a village in Tai Po, a suburban district of Hong Kong. Officers later searched a landfill as part of their effort to find evidence.
Choi and Alex Kwong had two children together. After their divorce, she remarried and had two younger children with her second husband.
Prosecutors are expected to present their opening case at a later date.
The jury trial is expected to continue for 45 days.