Driver, shop clerk testify in Abby Choi trial
HK01 · 9 SOURCESabout 18 hours ago6 MIN
Summary
The High Court heard three strands of evidence on Tuesday in the trial over the death of socialite Abby Choi Tin-fung (蔡天鳳): testimony from her former driver, a kitchenware shop assistant and a property agent. Former driver Chin Kei-shun said Kwong Kong-kit (鄺港傑) told him in November 2022 that the family would be away for two months and asked him to take unpaid leave; when Chin's proposal to receive half-pay while maintaining the vehicle was rejected, he resigned. The court also heard that a white-haired man in his 60s bought a meat grinder, stock pot, chopping board and strainer on 8 February 2023, and asked whether a bone-crushing machine could grind bones, but did not buy one after hearing it would cost about HK$35,000. Separately, a property agent said Kwong Kau (鄺球) used a HK$3.74 million cheque drawn on Choi's account as the deposit for the Kadoorie Hill flat, saying his daughter-in-law wanted to buy it for the children to live in for school convenience.
Key Points
- Chin said he applied for the driver job in April 2021, was interviewed by former mother-in-law Lee Shui-heung (李瑞香), started work on 1 May 2021, worked six days a week and earned HK$20,000 a month.
- He mainly drove Choi's two children to and from school, especially the elder child to Tuen Mun, and also drove Lee Shui-heung and family members for meals and shopping.
- Chin said Kwong Kong-kit later directed his work, had the password to the dashcam in the white Toyota seven-seater, and reconnected it shortly before Chin left.
- Under cross-examination, Chin said Choi often carried large amounts of cash, but from about February to June 2022 he sensed cash-flow pressure and sometimes advanced shopping payments for her
- Chin also recalled men loitering outside Choi's Begonia Road home in February 2022, Choi hiding in the car, and a call in which she asked Kwong Kong-kit for HK$600,000.
Why It Matters
The evidence adds detail to how transport, money and property were handled around Choi before February 2023, while also giving jurors more context about household routines and financial arrangements. For Hong Kong readers following a closely watched murder trial, the testimony shows how prosecutors and defence lawyers are using everyday records, purchases and witness recollections to reconstruct events before the alleged killing.