Abby Choi
蔡天鳳
Choi in 2022
Born(1994-07-15)15 July 1994
British Hong Kong
Diedc. 21 February 2023(2023-02-21) (aged 28)
New Territories, Hong Kong
Cause of deathMurder
Occupations
Spouse
Alex Kwong Kong-chi
​
​
(m. 2012; div. 2015)​
[1]
Children4

Abby Choi (15 July 1994[2] – c. 21 February 2023) was a Hong Kong[3] model, socialite, and influencer who was reported missing on 21 February 2023. On 24 February 2023, three days after she was reported missing, Choi was found murdered, with her headless body discovered at a village in Tai Po, a suburb in Hong Kong. Reportedly, some of her body parts were hidden inside a refrigerator and some of them were cooked.

According to the police, a total of seven suspects have been arrested so far for the murder of Choi: her former husband, former brother-in-law and former parents-in-law, the alleged mistress of her former father-in-law, and two friends of her former husband. Investigations and trials are currently ongoing.[4][5][6][7][8][9]

Discovery of Choi's death

On 24 February 2023, three days after her disappearance, the headless corpse of 28-year-old Choi was discovered at a Tai Po village house in Hong Kong. Reportedly, some of her body parts were hidden inside a refrigerator and some of them were cooked. The police therefore classified the case as murder. She was reported missing after she failed to pick up her daughter from school as she normally did and she last entered the car driven by her hired driver, who is also her ex-brother-in-law.[10] A meat slicer and electric saw were also found at the scene, according to police statements to the press.[11]

Personal background

Choi first debuted as an influencer. Although Choi had already been followed by many on social media accounts for several years, her notability in Hong Kong was still modest as of July 2022[12]. She also regularly attended the Paris Fashion Week and had been featured in several magazines including Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue. Choi had more than 100,000 followers on Instagram. [13] Less than two weeks before her death, Choi was featured on the cover of fashion and luxury lifestyle magazine L’Officiel Monaco;[14] also in that issue is an article praising her as a fashion icon who could mix and match pieces in ways that made her a trendsetter.

Choi was born in an ordinary family. Some time after her birth, her mother Cheung Yin-fa(張燕花) divorced her biological father and married Tsoi Cho-san(蔡楚生), who gave Choi two younger half-sisters. Cheung and Tsoi later made a fortune by operating construction and mining businesses in Mainland China. Choi's personal net worth at the time of her death was estimated by some to be over HK$100 million.[15] Choi also engaged in philanthropy by co-founding Paomes Charitable Organisation, a group dedicated to help stray animals.[16]

Choi married Alex Kwong when she was 18 years old and had two children during their three-year long marriage before it ended with a divorce on an unknown date. Afterwards, Choi formed a new family with Chris Tam Fong-Chun (譚方駿), whose father Tam Chuk-kwan（譚澤均）is rich and famous for being one of the founders of the restaurant chain Tamjai Yunnan Mixian (譚仔雲南米線), and had two other children with him, they held a wedding ceremony in 2016 but did not legally get married.[17] Choi maintained a close relationship with Kwong and his kin despite the divorce.[18]

Investigations

After the murder of Choi came to light, the police first arrested three suspects on 25 February 2023. One of them was Choi's former brother-in-law Anthony Kwong Kong-kit (鄺港傑) who was her hired driver, while the other two were the first suspect's parents, who both used to be Choi's parents-in-law before she divorced her first husband Alex Kwong Kong-chi (鄺港智).

After a citywide manhunt by police,[19] Alex Kwong later became the fourth to be arrested after he unsuccessfully tried to escape Hong Kong by sea.[20] It was alleged that the death of Choi was masterminded by her former father-in-law Kwong Kau (鄺球), a former policeman who was previously accused of rape.[21][22][23] The motive was believed to be the result of a money dispute,[24] and a luxury apartment believed to be bought by Choi before putting it under her former father-in-law's name.[25] The luxury apartment is located in Kadoorie Hill in Kowloon Tong, one of Hong Kong’s most prestigious addresses, and the neighbourhood is home to some of the city’s wealthiest people.

On 26 February 2023, the police found Choi's severed head and several of her ribs inside a pot of cooked soup.[26] At the same time, the police arrested a fifth suspect in connection to the killing, a 47-year-old Ng Chi Wing (伍志榮), a mistress of Kwong Kau. She was said to have helped hide Alex Kwong before his apparent attempt to flee Hong Kong.[27][28] The search for the missing hands and torso and other body parts remained ongoing.[29] More than a hundred officers were mobilized to search for the other missing body parts.[30] Currently, the police were searching through the North East New Territories Landfill in Ta Kwu Ling for the missing hands and torso.[31] They are also currently questioning the villagers to seek more information needed to solve the case.[32] DNA testing results revealed in March 2023 that the recovered head belonged to Choi.[33]

On 27 February 2023, the police proceeded with murder charges against Alex Kwong, his brother and father, while charging Alex Kwong's mother with perverting the course of justice.[34][35] All four suspects, who were officially charged in court, were denied bail and would be held in remand pending investigations. Their cases are adjourned to 8 May 2023.[36][37] Ng was charged with abetting a murder suspect, but she is currently released on bail.[38]

Not only that, it came to light that Alex Kwong was a suspect behind seven alleged cases of theft that occurred for nearly a decade before Choi was killed, and had once absconded despite being scheduled to appear in court in 2015. Hence, Kwong was charged in court for these cases as well.[39] On 2 March 2023, a sixth suspect, 41-year-old Lam Shun (林舜) was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting Kwong to escape Hong Kong by boat for a payment sum of HK$300,000. Lam was an employee of a yacht rental company.[40][41] Lam, who was charged on 6 March, was granted bail.[42] A seventh suspect named Irene Pun Hau-yin (潘巧賢), a 29-year-old Hong Konger and friend of Alex Kwong, was also arrested in Shenzhen, China on 7 March for abetting Kwong in his attempted escape from Hong Kong, and she was handed over to the Hong Kong authorities.[43] Pun was charged on 8 March, and later granted bail of HK$50,000, but she was given a travel ban to prevent her from leaving Hong Kong.[44][45]

According to the laws of Hong Kong, a conviction for murder carries the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment.[46] Originally, the death penalty was the sole legal punishment for murder in Hong Kong before it was fully abolished in 1993, allowing judges to instead impose life sentences as the permissible penalty for murder.[47]

In another development of the case, Choi's mother filed a court injunction to forbid Kwong Kau from selling the property linked to her daughter's murder and to seek a declaration that her daughter was the beneficiary owner of that apartment.[48]

A pre-trial conference was held on 8 May 2023, with six of the seven suspects behind Choi's murder appeared in court. The prosecution revealed that bloodstains matching to the DNA of Choi were found inside the car of her former brother-in-law, and over 30 exhibits seized by the police, including knives, chainsaws and hammers from the village, would be sent for DNA processing.[49]

Suspects

  1. Alex Kwong Kong-chi (鄺港智), 28, Choi's former husband – charged with murder[50]
  2. Anthony Kwong Kong-kit (鄺港傑),[51] 31, Alex Kwong's brother and Choi's former brother-in-law – charged with murder[52]
  3. Kwong Kau (鄺球),[53] 65, Alex Kwong and Anthony Kwong's father, Choi's former father-in-law – charged with murder[54]
  4. Jenny Li Sui-heung (李瑞香),[55] 63, Alex Kwong and Anthony Kwong's mother, Choi's former mother-in-law – charged with perverting the course of justice[56]
  5. Ng Chi Wing (伍志榮), 47, Kwong Kau's mistress – charged with assisting a murder suspect[57][58]
  6. Henry Lam Shun (林舜),[59] 41, Alex Kwong's friend – charged with abetting a murder suspect[60]
  7. Irene Pun Hau-yin (潘巧賢),[61][62] 29, abetting a murder suspect[63]

Responses

The case of Choi's killing brought shock to the whole community of Hong Kong, as well as making headlines internationally. The high-profile nature of the crime has also brought to light several notorious murder cases that happened in the past, including serial killer Lam Kor-wan (whose original death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment), the Braemar Hill murders of 1985 (in which five youths were convicted of killing the two victims, with two being imprisoned indefinitely and three serving life sentences) and the Hello Kitty murder case of 1999 (where three persons were sentenced to imprisonment terms of between 18 years and life).[64]

Hong Kong actor Aaron Kwok and his wife Moka Fang were reportedly devastated over the death of Choi, who was close friends with the couple, and they offered condolences, describing her as a good friend.[65] Choi's current husband, with whom she had two children, remembered her as a wife and mother who was often attentive and caring for her family, and stated he would take care of the children, including his two step-children. Choi's father-in-law also regarded her as a daughter who was not his own but whom he doted on.[66] Similarly, Choi's mother also made tributes to her eldest daughter and talked about the good memories she shared with her daughter, whom she described as filial.[67] Thousands of fans and netizens worldwide offered condolences for the victim, with some netizens from mainland China suggesting that the perpetrators deserved the death penalty for murdering Choi, and were disappointed at the fact that it was not applicable in Hong Kong despite its usage in mainland China for severe crimes.[68] The school which Choi's children attended offered counseling sessions to her children and any other students affected by the horrific nature of the crime.[69][70] The ritual to pay respects to Choi was held on 11 March 2023.[71] The funeral of Choi was conducted on 18 June 2023.[72]

The community at Tai Po's Lung Mei Village, where most of Choi's dismembered body parts were recovered, also made plans to perform Taoist rituals to "calm the spirit" of the deceased, due to the horrific and tragic nature of her death.[73] Choi's family members and friends gathered outside the crime scene to show respects.[74]

The police also made a press conference, assuring the public that they would put in efforts to ensure that justice is fulfilled to the fullest for the victim and her family.[75] They also stated that with the help of GPS records and CCTV footages, they were able to solve the case.[76]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "蔡天鳳碎屍案｜案情一文整合附時間線 28歲名媛為譚仔創辦人媳婦 失蹤三日屍體11公里外被發現 前夫家人因錢銀糾紛動殺機？". Yahoo!News (in Chinese). 24 February 2023. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "蔡天鳳八字曝光 吳佩孚師傅推算：佢前世係貓 - 娛樂放題 - 娛樂追擊". 東周網【東周刊官方網站】Eastweek.com.hk (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  3. ↑ Leung, Kanis. "Ex-husband, in-laws charged in Hong Kong model's death after remains found in fridge, soup pot". USA TODAY. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "Hong Kong model butchered over money dispute; ex-husband's family among 4 arrested". Mothership. 25 February 2023. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  5. ↑ "After Model's Gruesome Killing, Suspicion Falls on Ex-Husband and His Family". New York Times. 26 February 2023. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "Hong Kong police arrest three after finding dismembered remains of model this murder is regarded as one of the most hideous crimes in modern history leaving 4 innocent children without a mother". The Guardian. 26 February 2023. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  7. ↑ "Ex-husband and relatives charged with murder of Hong Kong model Abby Choi as body parts found". CNN. 27 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "Sixth arrest made in connection with brutal Hong Kong murder of model Abby Choi". South China Morning Post. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  9. ↑ "Woman arrested in gruesome killing of Hong Kong model Abby Choi". CNA. 7 March 2023.
  10. ↑ "Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi's head found in soup pot, some body parts still missing". The Straits Times. 26 February 2023. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "Hong Kong police charge three in murder of model". Reuters. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  12. ↑ 蘇國豪 (9 July 2022). "「天王嫂」方媛公主風出席生日會 曬白滑長腿搶主角焦點". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  13. ↑ "Hong Kong model's in-laws charged after body parts found". Sydney Morning Herald. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  14. ↑ "Fashion icon, influencer: Who is HK socialite Abby Choi?". The Straits Times. 24 February 2023. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
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  16. ↑ "Abby Choi's Partner Mourns Her Death, Promises To Take Care Of Her 4 Children". Must Share News. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  17. ↑ "Who was Abby Choi and what we know so far about the Hong Kong socialite's alleged body parts murder". TODAY. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  18. ↑ "HK socialite's murder: Even after divorce, Abby Choi kept close ties with ex-husband and family". The Straits Times. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  19. ↑ "Hong Kong model murder: details of human butcher shop emerge as police investigate killing". South China Morning Post. 24 February 2023. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  20. ↑ "Ex-husband of dismembered model Abby Choi arrested at pier in Hong Kong trying to 'abscond,' police say". CNN. 26 February 2023. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  21. ↑ "HK socialite's murder: Police say former father-in-law plotted killing; ex-husband arrested". The Straits Times. 25 February 2023. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  22. ↑ "港媒：名媛蔡天凤前家翁情妇窝藏死者前夫被捕". Lianhe Zaobao (in Chinese). 24 February 2023. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  23. ↑ "港名媛碎尸案《寄生上流》现实版-蔡天凤前夫一家黑历史被深扒". Sin Chew Jit Poh (in Chinese). 26 February 2023. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  24. ↑ "Hong Kong model butchered over money dispute; ex-husband's family among 4 arrested". CNA. 25 February 2023. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  25. ↑ "What we know about the luxury apartment linked to Abby Choi's murder probe". The Straits Times. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  26. ↑ "Police find skull, several ribs believed to be from murdered Hong Kong model Abby Choi in soup pot; lover of suspect arrested". TODAY. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  27. ↑ "Police find severed head of Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi in soup pot; suspect's lover arrested". The Straits Times. 26 February 2023. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  28. ↑ "Ex-husband among 4 remanded without bail after Hong Kong socialite found dismembered in gruesome murder". Hong Kong Free Press. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  29. ↑ "Murdered Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi: Police find her severed head in soup pot". AsiaOne. 26 February 2023. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  30. ↑ "香港名媛碎尸案引发轰动，其前夫等四人被捕". New York Times (in Chinese). 27 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  31. ↑ "Police look for evidence for slain Hong Kong model Abby Choi's case". CNA. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  32. ↑ "Hong Kong police question villagers in hunt for evidence as search for Abby Choi's missing body parts draws blank". TODAY. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  33. ↑ "港名媛碎尸案：DNA检测证实新界大埔村屋发现人体残骸属于蔡天凤". Sin Chew Jit Poh (in Chinese). 6 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
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  35. ↑ "Police find skull, several ribs believed to be from murdered Hong Kong model Abby Choi in soup pot; lover of suspect also arrested". South China Morning Post. 26 February 2023. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  36. ↑ "Four appear in Hong Kong court on charges of murdering HK socialite Abby Choi". TODAY. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  37. ↑ "Four charged in Hong Kong court with gruesome murder of model Abby Choi". CNA. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  38. ↑ "100 HK police officers search for Abby Choi's missing spine & arms in landfill". Mothership. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  39. ↑ "Ex-husband of slain Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi appears in court over 7 cases of alleged theft spanning decade". TODAY. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  40. ↑ "Abby Choi murder: Who are the suspects linked to killing of Hong Kong model?". TODAY. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  41. ↑ "6th suspect arrested in murder of Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi". The Straits Times. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  42. ↑ "6th suspect in murder of Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi granted bail". The Straits Times. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  43. ↑ "7th suspect linked to Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi's murder arrested". The Straits Times. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  44. ↑ "Abby Choi murder: Hong Kong court grants HK$50,000 bail to seventh suspect linked to case". South China Morning Post. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  45. ↑ "Abby Choi murder: suspects who have been arrested, charged in connection with killing of Hong Kong model". South China Morning Post. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  46. ↑ "Ex-husband's relatives charged in Hong Kong model's slaying". Washington Post. 26 February 2023. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  47. ↑ "Demise of the death penalty". South China Morning Post. 23 March 2004. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  48. ↑ "Property listing shows Abby Choi's luxury flat that may have caused her death sold for $12.5m". The Straits Times. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  49. ↑ "Six suspects appear in court for Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi's murder". The Straits Times. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  50. ↑ "Who are the 5 linked to HK model Abby Choi's grisly murder?". The Straits Times. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  51. ↑ "香港蔡天凤命案：疑凶一家提上法庭 我们目前都知道什么". BBC (Chinese edition) (in Chinese). 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  52. ↑ "Who are the 5 linked to HK model Abby Choi's grisly murder?". The Straits Times. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  53. ↑ "香港蔡天凤命案：疑凶一家提上法庭 我们目前都知道什么". BBC (Chinese edition) (in Chinese). 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  54. ↑ "Who are the 5 linked to HK model Abby Choi's grisly murder?". The Straits Times. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  55. ↑ "香港蔡天凤命案：疑凶一家提上法庭 我们目前都知道什么". BBC (Chinese edition) (in Chinese). 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  56. ↑ "Who are the 5 linked to HK model Abby Choi's grisly murder?". The Straits Times. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  57. ↑ "Who are the 5 linked to HK model Abby Choi's grisly murder?". The Straits Times. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  58. ↑ "蔡天鳳碎屍案｜前家翁情婦獲准保釋 3月下旬向警方報到". Ming Pao (in Chinese). 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  59. ↑ "港名媛碎尸案：DNA检测证实新界大埔村屋发现人体残骸属于蔡天凤". Sin Chew Jit Poh (in Chinese). 6 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  60. ↑ "Man who helped alleged murderer in Abby Choi case escape granted bail". The Standard. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  61. ↑ "涉助碎屍案前夫 KOL深落網移交港 「鄺球」「鄺港傑」內地持兩公司 註冊資本7000萬人幣". 明報新聞網 (in Chinese). 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  62. ↑ "Latest arrested female social media influencer in connection with Abby Choi murder lives at The Cullinan in Kowloon and takes regular pictures with celebrities". Dinsum Daily. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  63. ↑ "Abby Choi murder: suspect arrested in mainland China and handed over to Hong Kong police". South China Morning Post. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  64. ↑ "HK socialite's headless body found: 6 other gruesome murders that shocked the city". The Straits Times. 26 February 2023. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  65. ↑ "Aaron Kwok and wife Moka Fang devastated by brutal murder of HK socialite Abby Choi". The Straits Times. 27 February 2023. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  66. ↑ "I'm grateful she appeared in my life, says HK model Abby Choi's husband after her brutal murder". The Straits Times. 26 February 2023. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  67. ↑ "Behind the Birkin bags and luxury coats, Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi was mother's pride". The Straits Times. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  68. ↑ "蔡天凤碎尸案逃犯被抓！前夫此前涉诈骗案被通缉，但香港没有死刑". Sina (in Chinese). 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  69. ↑ "蔡天凤孩子就读的哈罗国际学校将为学生提供心理辅导". Lianhe Zaobao (in Chinese). 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  70. ↑ "Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi's murder: School attended by her child to limit pupil's news exposure". TODAY. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  71. ↑ "Abby Choi murder: Hong Kong rural officials, villagers hold Taoist ceremony outside crime scene to pay respects to slain model". The Star. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  72. ↑ "Family and friends mourn murdered model Abby Choi in Hong Kong". The Straits Times. 18 June 2023.
  73. ↑ "Police continue search for rest of Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi's body". The Straits Times. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  74. ↑ "Family, friends of slain Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi gather outside crime scene to pay respects". TODAY. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  75. ↑ "港名媛双手躯干未寻获 警方：嫌犯全不合作". 8World News (in Chinese). 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  76. ↑ "How Hong Kong police cracked the case of socialite Abby Choi's murder using vehicle GPS records and camera footage". TODAY. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
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