Neil Heywood murder charges not contested by Bo Xilai’s wife Gu Kailai

12 years ago | Posted in: Latest Politics News | 646 Views

Criminal charges that Gu Kailai, the wife of ousted Chinese politician Bo Xilai, conspired with an aide to poison and murder British businessman Neil Heywood have gone uncontested in court.

The trial of Gu and household aide Zhang Xiaojun at the intermediate people’s court in Hefei, eastern China, lasted just one day.

Foreign media were banned from entering the courthouse but two British diplomats were permitted to watch largely-orchestrated proceedings, which were also filmed by state broadcaster CCTV.

Verdicts have not yet been announced but Gu and Zhang are almost certain to be found guilty of intentional homicide, a charge that carries sentences ranging from ten years in jail to the death penalty.

Gu, 53, looked calm when she appeared in court, with both her and co-defendant Zhang not wearing handcuffs.

According to Tang Yigan, the court’s deputy director, the court heard how Gu and Zhang had gotten Mr Heywood, 41, drunk at a hotel in Chongqing – the south-western megacity where Mr Bo was previously party chief – on November 13 last year.

When Mr Heywood felt sick and asked for water they poured poison down his throat in a murder motivated by a business dispute and an unspecified threat to her son Bo Guagua, the court reportedly heard.

Mr Heywood’s death was initially attributed to excessive alcohol consumption, a claim queried by friends and family who said he was not a heavy-drinker.

British officials complained after his body was cremated and no autopsy was performed, but no further action was taken until Chongqing police aide Wang Lijun dramatically fled to the US consulate in Chengdu in February to report allegations that Mr Heywood had been poisoned.

The claims led to the downfall of 64-year-old Mr Bo and the eventual indictment of his wife and their aide.

Prior to his dismissal Mr Bo was considered to be in the running for the country’s ruling politburo, once-in-a-decade changes to which are due to be made this autumn.

Observers said the priority for China’s rulers was to keep the focus on Mr Heywood’s murder and not the accompanying allegations of corruption swirling around Mr Bo and his wife.

 

 

Ref: http://www.metro.co.uk

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