Abby Choi murder trial: Tool purchase, HK$67m flat sale examined on day 24
On day 24 of the Abby Choi murder trial, a hardware store clerk testified about a hammer and tape purchase by the former brother-in-law. An estate agent recalled the victim's efforts to sell a HK$67 million flat owned by her former father-in-law. The trial continues.
The high-profile trial over the February 2023 murder and dismemberment of socialite Abby Choi Tin-fung entered its 24th day, with jurors hearing testimony about suspicious tool purchases and the victim's efforts to sell a luxury property.
Choi's former husband Alex Kwong Kong-chi, former brother-in-law Anthony Kwong Kong-kit, and former father-in-law Kwong Kau face charges of murder and preventing lawful burial. Both Anthony and Alex have admitted to the burial charge but deny murder; Kwong Kau has pleaded not guilty to both counts.
A Kowloon City hardware store clerk, surnamed Chow, testified that Anthony Kwong bought a one-pound ball-peen hammer, two rolls of black duct tape, and a roll of double-sided adhesive tape on 15 February 2023, six days before the alleged murder. CCTV showed Anthony wearing a white mask, pacing and scratching his head. Chow said he interpreted circular and hammering gestures as a request for a ball-peen hammer. Jurors and counsel inspected the hammer. Under cross-examination, Chow said such tools are used for driving nails but could bend metal with substantial force; he had no idea what the customer intended.
The court also heard from estate agent Tong about Choi's attempt to sell a Kadoorie Hill flat for HK$67 million. Tong met Choi and her mother in mid-February 2023. Though the legal owner was Kwong Kau, Choi said she had sole decision-making authority. She declined Tong's offer to photograph the property, saying she had professional images ready. Tong called her exceptionally proactive. When Tong noted Kwong Kau was the registered proprietor, Choi insisted she was in charge and would bring him to sign paperwork. Under questioning, Tong said the property market was in a downturn due to the pandemic, with thin transaction volumes.
A second-floor resident of the Lung Mei village house, surnamed Leung, testified that two surveillance cameras on his balcony had monitored an adjacent sports pitch for several years. Both cameras functioned and recorded continuously with accurate timestamps, but could not capture audio when balcony windows were shut.
The prosecution alleges the three men murdered Choi inside the ground-floor flat on 21 February 2023 and conspired to prevent her lawful burial over the next two days. The hearing continues.