Mother says murdered woman spent HK$2m on egg waffle shop for defendant
In the murder and dismemberment trial of Choi Tin-fung, her mother Chang Yin-fa testified that Choi spent about HK$2 million to open an egg waffle shop to help defendant Kwong Ho-kit, who was unemployed. The defence countered that Choi opened the shop because her children liked egg waffles.
The murder and dismemberment trial of Choi Tin-fung continued on Wednesday in the High Court, with her mother Chang Yin-fa facing cross-examination from the defence.
Chang testified that Choi had lent money to defendant Kwong Ho-kit after he lost his job. Describing Kwong as a “shoe-shiner”, “pretending to be pitiful” and using “sweet talk”, Chang said Choi ultimately spent about HK$2 million to open an egg waffle shop for Kwong.
The defence disputed this, presenting business registration documents in court showing that Choi herself had opened the shop. They argued that Choi did so because her children liked egg waffles, not to assist Kwong. Chang acknowledged that this could be partly true, but maintained that it was also to help Kwong.
Regarding Kwong’s previous employment as Choi’s driver, Chang said Choi had not wanted to hire him, describing his driving as very fast and dangerous.
The defence also focused on Chang’s earlier mention that she owned a property in Whampoa Garden. Chang had said this was why Choi could not buy the Kowloon Tong property in her own name and instead used the name of another defendant, Kwong Kau. The defence confirmed with Chang that police had contacted her via WeChat the previous evening to ask about the Whampoa Garden address. Chang confirmed this, adding that after checking, she realised she had been mistaken: she does not own property in Hong Kong, and the Whampoa Garden flat is in her husband’s name.
Chang also testified that on the day Choi disappeared, she contacted Kwong, who told her that Choi was “drunk”. Chang said she found this strange. The defence questioned why Chang had not mentioned this in multiple earlier statements. Chang replied that she had only gradually recalled it over the past year, and had been busy caring for two young children.
The trial continues on Thursday.