Prosecutors allege money motive in Abby Choi trial
SingTao · 10 SOURCESabout 8 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong’s High Court on 30 September completed a second round of jury selection in the murder trial over model and influencer Abby Choi after an earlier jury was dissolved when one juror withdrew on health grounds. The court drew 54 candidates from 95 people arranged to attend and ultimately seated a panel of eight men and one woman, with the three defendants raising no objection before the jurors were sworn in English. Prosecutors then opened their case, alleging that a dispute over a roughly HK$60 million Kadoorie Hill flat held in former father-in-law Kwong Kau’s name triggered a plan by Kwong and his two sons to kill Choi and dispose of her body. The trial before Deputy High Court Judge Brian Keith is expected to last 40 days, with proceedings adjourned to continue on Friday after the prosecution had not finished its opening.
Key Points
- The earlier jury of seven men and two women was discharged after one juror said trial stress might worsen a medical condition and produced a doctor’s note.
- Judge Brian Keith told candidates the trial would be conducted in English, warned weak-English claims would be scrutinised, and said followers of Choi’s Instagram account were unsuitable.
- Of 54 candidates drawn, 45 were excused, including one who witnessed a relative nearly being killed, six with travel plans, and nine citing poor English.
- A woman whose husband is a National Security Department station sergeant was told that alone was not grounds for exemption, but she was later removed after a defence objection.
- Prosecutors said Choi wanted to sell the Kadoorie Hill flat, move the children’s carers closer to Tuen Mun, and that Kwong Kau then rented Lung Mei Village as part of the alleged plan.
Why It Matters
The case has now shifted from jury-selection disruption into the evidential phase, where the prosecution must prove not only a killing but a jointly planned operation involving motive, transport and disposal. For Hong Kong readers, the trial is also testing how the court handles a heavily publicised case involving social media fame, family financial arrangements and graphic allegations while insisting jurors decide only on evidence heard in court.