Abby Choi Jury Discharged, Fresh Selection Set Wednesday
HK01 · 6 SOURCES1 day ago5 MIN
Summary
The High Court on Monday discharged the nine-member jury in the Abby Choi case after one juror applied to withdraw, saying service in the case could worsen a health condition. Acting High Court judge Alex Qi Yan-hui said the court had received the juror's message last Friday together with supporting documents, and accepted that the pressure of the trial might aggravate the condition. He ruled that the remaining eight jurors should not continue because the trial had not yet moved into the prosecution's opening or the evidence stage, and ordered a fresh jury selection for Wednesday. The case concerns three defendants charged with murdering Choi on February 21, 2023, and with preventing the lawful burial of her body between February 21 and 23, 2023.
Key Points
- The jury chosen last Thursday consisted of seven men and two women, and the prosecution had originally been expected to open its case on Monday.
- Judge Qi said one juror contacted the court last Friday, citing health concerns and providing documents showing the case pressure might worsen the illness.
- The judge said Hong Kong law does not allow a single replacement juror after the formal swearing and reading of charges from that candidate pool.
- He also said an eight-person jury can sometimes continue only after a trial is already under way, which was not the position here.
- The defendants are Kwong Kong-kit (鄺港傑), Kwong Kau (鄺球) and Kwong Kong-chi (鄺港智), facing murder and unlawful burial-related charges in High Court case HCCC 198/2025.
Why It Matters
The immediate effect is procedural delay: before any opening address or evidence can be heard, the court must restart jury selection and empanel a new panel. For a closely watched criminal trial, the ruling keeps the focus on ensuring a legally sound process at the outset rather than risking later challenge over how the jury was constituted.