Abby Choi murder trial delayed after jury discharged
SCMP · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong’s High Court on Monday discharged the recently empanelled jury in the murder trial over the death of socialite Abby Choi Tin-fung after one juror asked to be excused on health grounds. Deputy Judge Brian Keith said he accepted the request and decided a fresh jury had to be formed because the court could not simply replace the departing juror with someone from a different pool. The prosecution had been due to open its case on Monday, but the matter was adjourned and a new nine-member jury will now be selected on Wednesday, September 30. The trial had initially been expected to last eight weeks, but the latest delay may push proceedings into December.
Key Points
- The discharged panel consisted of seven men and two women, and had only been selected last Thursday before being stood down on Monday.
- Judge Brian Keith said a juror raised health concerns last week, fearing the stress of serving could aggravate an existing medical condition.
- The judge said the case could technically continue with eight jurors, but chose not to do so because opening submissions and evidence had not begun.
- Keith told jurors that all members had to be chosen from the same candidate pool, making a simple replacement impractical and legally problematic.
- Choi’s former husband Alex Kwong Kong-chi, his father Kwong Kau, and brother Anthony Kwong Kong-kit face murder and burial-related charges.
Why It Matters
The decision means a further delay in one of Hong Kong’s most closely followed criminal trials, after the court had already spent a week dealing with preliminary issues. For local readers, the ruling also shows how strictly the High Court is handling jury composition before evidence begins, even when that extends an already lengthy timetable.