Slain model's family, friends pay respects as search continues

Model Abby Choi Tin-fung's family tearfully identified the 28-year-old's remains at Fu Shan public mortuary, as about 130 police officers continued to search for her missing body parts at the Ta Kwu Ling landfill yesterday.

This came as a fifth person arrested in the horrific murder of the young mother of four - the 47-year-old mistress of Choi's ex-father-in-law - was released on bail.

The mistress, Ng, was arrested Sunday for allegedly helping to rent a Tai Po village house - where Choi was dismembered - and a flat in Tsim Sha Tsui to harbor Choi's ex-husband Alex Kwong Kong-chi. She is required to report to police at the end of the month.

Choi's family - her mother, husband Chris Tam and parents-in-law - were at the mortuary for two hours to identify her remains before going to the murder scene in Lung Mei Village for a ritual to pay their respects on the seventh day of her death, as she was apparently killed last Tuesday.

"I'm really grateful to have met you," Tam said.

Choi's mother, leaning on his son-in-law, cried: "I can never see you again."

Tam's mother blurted: "Your kindness was wasted on people who aren't worth it." She added that the family will take care of the model's four children.

Meanwhile, about 130 police officers searched the North East New Territories Landfill to look for Choi's missing hands and torso, as the four accused - her ex-husband Kwong and three former in-laws - are suspected of dumping the missing body parts at a refuse collection point.

Although officers found bones in the landfill, it was unknown whether they were human or animal remains. They have been sent to laboratories for testing.

Superintendent Alan Chung Nga-lun of the Kowloon West regional crime unit expected it would take three days for officers to complete the search but is confident more evidence will be found.

Surveillance camera footage shows that the defendants dumped evidence - including Choi's body parts, clothes, phone and the murder weapon - at a refuse collection point in Lung Mei Village, Chung said.

After contacting the driver who collected garbage there, the police located a small area of the landfill where they suspected the body parts and Choi's belongings were dumped. "We will mainly search the slope below the landfill, which is about the size of a football field," Chung said, adding that the rubbish was piled up to five meters deep.

On Monday, the four ex-family members of Choi were remanded in custody, facing charges of murder and perverting the course of justice.

Kwong, 28, jobless, appeared in District Court yesterday to face seven theft charges which he allegedly committed between 2013 and 2015.

Judge Justin Ko King-sau adjourned the case to May 9 as the prosecution will review the evidence and consider laying additional charges.

Ko said Kwong had pleaded not guilty to the charges in 2015 and a trial was scheduled. But Kwong jumped bail and the court issued a warrant.

Kwong appeared calm in court and said he had nothing to say.

The court has heard that Kwong stole 39 necklaces, 32 bracelets, over 13 gold bars, 102 gold pellets and six pendants from seven people in Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei and Hung Hom between May 12, 2013 and January 14, 2015.

Meanwhile, an animal protection group that received over HK$10 million a year in donations from Choi has changed its name to memorialize her.

The charity Paomes Charitable Org has changed its name to Abby & Paomes Charitable Org.

"Mid-last year, Abby said there are many stray animals in need and we must help the volunteers who are taking care of these animals," the charity said. "She proposed many ideas during our meeting 10 days ago and we will carry on her legacy."

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com

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