Hong Kong — Days before Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi was murdered, her father-in-law and brother-in-law allegedly went on a spooky shopping spree. An electric saw, a meat grinder and a refrigerator were among the items they bought in preparation for the murder and disposal of the mother of four, prosecutors told a Hong Kong court on Friday. The gruesome 2023 murder of Choi, who rubbed shoulders with showbiz elites at fashion events and had a large online following, shocked the wealthy financial center and made global headlines. Only parts of Choi’s body were recovered, deepening the mystery that at the time surrounded the violent death of the prominent young socialite. Her ex-husband Alex Kwong, her brother Anthony Kwong and her father Kwong Kau have pleaded not guilty to her murder during a trial that is shedding new light on Choi’s final moments. Lead prosecutor Charlotte Draycott told jurors on Friday that the model and influencer was repeatedly hit in the head with a hammer inside a car driven by her ex-brother-in-law, with her ex-husband also inside. He was on his way to pick up his daughter from school. About two weeks before Choi’s death, Kwong Kau and his son Anthony Kwong, who also worked as Choi’s driver, were seen visiting several stores and purchasing a variety of items directly related to the murder, Draycott told the court. The items included a power saw, a meat grinder, as well as some boxes and a refrigerator, along with a large cutting board, a giant saucepan, and some deodorizing products. Parts of Choi’s body were later found inside the refrigerator, Draycott said. A hammer purchased by Anthony Kwong is believed to be the murder weapon, Draycott said, while Choi’s ex-husband allegedly borrowed the vehicle where the murder is said to have taken place from a friend, according to prosecutors. “That’s why we say this was a thoughtful plan, as each person played their part in preparing the facility,” Draycott told the court. On February 21, 2023, Choi was supposed to pick up her daughter from school. Shortly before the planned school run, Anthony and Alex met at a Starbucks, where CCTV captured Anthony making a series of gestures that Draycott said could have foreshadowed the attack. Footage showed him appearing to hold something with both hands before moving his right arm up and down, the prosecutor said. “You can interpret that [Anthony] was indicating to [Alex] “How could he put Abby’s head down,” he told the jury as they watched the CCTV footage. He added that Anthony then picked up Choi, while Alex joined the vehicle at another location. During the trip, Choi exchanged text messages with his mother-in-law. The messages ended at 2:44 pm. Draycott said Choi was then attacked with the hammer inside the vehicle. Jurors were shown the alleged weapon, along with autopsy photographs documenting Choi’s injuries. “The beatings were ‘It’s savage,'” he told the court. The white vehicle carrying Choi, according to Draycott, stopped at a house in a rural area of Hong Kong, near the border with mainland China. He added that Choi’s blood was found in the vehicle along with the DNA of Alex and Anthony Kwong. Kwong Kau was alleged to have arranged the rental of the property. “They were not worried. They weren’t upset. “It’s what they expected,” the prosecutor said, while showing images of Kwong Kau dressed in a surgical mask near the vehicle. Later that day, a neighbor reported chainsaw noises and a smell, Draycott said, adding that all of the items purchased by the father-in-law and brother-in-law were eventually recovered at the village house. Anthony Kwong and Kwong Kau were arrested days later, while Alex was later arrested at a ferry dock just before attempting to flee Hong Kong, Draycott said. The trial continues Friday afternoon and is expected to last eight weeks.
