Heywood murder verdict set for Monday

on 17/08/2012 08:17:26

A Chinese court will deliver a verdict on Monday in the trial of ousted politician Bo Xilai's wife, accused of killing a British businessman.

Beijing lawyer Li Xiaolin said the court in the eastern city of Hefei, where the trial of Gu Kailai and a Bo family aide was held last week, would announce a judgment.

Mr Li has been hired by the family of the aide, Zhang Xiaojun.

Gu is accused of killing Neil Heywood after having a dispute over money and fearing that he had threatened her son's safety. State media reports say Gu confessed to the killing. Zhang has been named as Gu's accessory to Mr Heywood's murder.

Gu's tightly-orchestrated trial is a step towards resolving the political turbulence before the country's once-a-decade leadership transition this fall.