Bo's wife admits to murder

Gu Kailais trial lasts a day, verdict to come later

The high-profile trial of the wife of disgraced Chinese Communist Party leader Bo Xilai, for murdering a British businessman, turned out to be a one-day affair, with court saying she had admitted guilt and the verdict would be announced soon.

The court wound up the case involving Gu Kailai and her orderly Zhang Xiaojun, hours after it began and stated that four police officers will also go on trial in the case for alleged cover up.

According to a report in state-run Xinhua news agency, Gu invited the Briton, with whom she had conflict over “economic interests” to a vacation resort where she poisoned him with the help of her orderly.

The trial of Gu and Zhang began at Intermediate People’s Court at the eastern Chinese city of Hefei under tight security, and was attended among others by two British diplomats. TV footage showed her being escorted to the court by two policewomen and she was seen smiling and appeared in good spirits.

By noon, Xinhua flashed the news that Gu has been charged with administering poison to the 41-year-old Briton.

It said in the “intentional homicide trial” of Gu and Zhang, prosecutors charged that Gu personally administered poison to Heywood in November in Chongqing where her husband Bo worked as head of city Communist Party wing.

According to Xinhua, Gu, 53, opted to kill Heywood and she and her son Bo Guagua had business conflicts with him.

“Worrying about Heywood’s threat to her son’s personal security, Gu Kailai decided to murder Heywood,” it said.

She made Zhang to invite Heywood to Chongqing from Beijing and met him “for a drink” at the vacation resort Chongqing.

“After Heywood was drunk, vomited and asked for water, she put the poison which Zhang had brought along to the hotel room, into Heywood’s mouth, which led to Heywood’s death,” the report said.

The prosecuting body said the facts of the two defendants poisoning the victim to death are clear and the evidence is substantial. The charges could invite death penalty. The date of the verdict would be announced later, BBC quoted the court official as saying.

According to the court, four other police officers, who were suspected of covering up Gu’s son Bogu Kailai’s illegal conduct during the investigation into Heywood’s death, were also charged with bending the law to achieve personal benefit. The court will hold an open trial for the officers on Friday.