The former boyfriend of a 23-year-old yoga instructor testified in his own defence as his murder trial continued on 9 November 2026. She was found dead with more than 40 knife wounds at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. He is charged with murdering her in a hotel room between 29 and 30 June 2022. He denied the charge.
The defendant told the court that he met her in 2021 after replying to an Instagram post about a painting she had made. He said they became a couple in February that year. Because she found packing for overnight stays inconvenient, he said, she suggested renting a place to meet. He rented a unit at Harbourview Horizon All-Suite Hotel in Hung Hom.
He described arguments over her contact with another man. He said he found messages between them, and that further discoveries led to more disputes. He also testified that she called police three times and sought fire-service help to force entry during disputes; he said the landlord eventually refused to renew the rental.
The defendant told the court he had spent nearly HK$1 million on her, despite earning about HK$30,000 a month, and had borrowed more than HK$200,000. He cited cash, shopping and a yoga course among the expenses, and showed the jury credit-card statements, according to HK01.
He also testified that she later told him she was pregnant and that they agreed to terminate the pregnancy. He said he paid HK$25,000 for the procedure and bought her Dior and Gucci handbags and jewellery.