2 on trial over Neil Heywood death
Source: Xinhua |
August 10, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Bogu Kailai and Zhang Xiaojun went on trial yesterday for the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood.
State television showed Bogu, wearing a dark pant suit and white shirt, being seated in the dock at Hefei Intermediate People's Court in Anhui Province.
The wife of Bo Xilai, who was removed from his post as Chongqing's Party chief on March 15 for a probe into disciplinary violations, appeared to have put on weight since she was detained earlier this year.
The court heard that Bogu and her son Bo Guagua had disputes with Heywood over economic interests. Worried about a threat to her son's personal security, Bogu decided to murder Heywood, prosecutors said.
She asked Zhang, then an employee of the general office of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, to invite Heywood to Chongqing in southwest China and accompany him from Beijing.
Heywood was staying at the Lucky Holiday Hotel in Chongqing when, on November 13 last year, Bogu met him in his room for a drink. Heywood became drunk, vomited and asked for water, prosecutors said. Bogu then put poison, which she had prepared and Zhang had brought, into Heywood's mouth.
Prosecutors said the facts of the two defendants poisoning the victim were clear and the evidence was substantial.
Their behavior violated Article 232 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China. Therefore, the defendants should be held criminally responsible for intentional homicide. The case was a joint offense with Bogu as the principal and Zhang the accessory, prosecutors said.
The People's Procuratorate of Hefei City in east China filed charges against Bogu and Zhang at the Hefei Intermediate People's Court on July 26.
The court accepted the case according to a decision designating jurisdiction by the Supreme People's Court, and delivered a copy of the indictment to the two defendants. The court also informed them and Heywood's close relatives of their rights and obligations.
The defendants' lawyer had access to the entire case file, fully ensuring the litigation rights of the defendants.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence, witnesses appeared in court to testify, and defense counsel entrusted by the two defendants pleaded on their behalf.
An attorney representing Heywood's close relatives was present and made comments.
More than 140 people attended, including British diplomats, media representatives, deputies to China's legislature, members of China's political advisory body and others from all walks of life.
After yesterday's session, the court adjourned and said a judgment would be announced on a day to be decided.
The court said that four police officers, who were suspected of covering up Bogu's conduct during an investigation into Heywood's death, were charged by the Hefei People's Procuratorate with bending the law to achieve personal benefits.
They were named as Guo Weiguo, former deputy chief of Chongqing's Public Security Bureau, Li Yang, former chief of the bureau's criminal section, Wang Pengfei, former chief of the bureau's technical detection team and also former chief of the Public Security Sub-bureau of Chongqing's Yubei District, and Wang Zhi, former executive deputy chief of the Public Security Sub-bureau of the municipality's Shapingba District.
The court is holding an open trial of the officers today.
State television showed Bogu, wearing a dark pant suit and white shirt, being seated in the dock at Hefei Intermediate People's Court in Anhui Province.
The wife of Bo Xilai, who was removed from his post as Chongqing's Party chief on March 15 for a probe into disciplinary violations, appeared to have put on weight since she was detained earlier this year.
The court heard that Bogu and her son Bo Guagua had disputes with Heywood over economic interests. Worried about a threat to her son's personal security, Bogu decided to murder Heywood, prosecutors said.
She asked Zhang, then an employee of the general office of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, to invite Heywood to Chongqing in southwest China and accompany him from Beijing.
Heywood was staying at the Lucky Holiday Hotel in Chongqing when, on November 13 last year, Bogu met him in his room for a drink. Heywood became drunk, vomited and asked for water, prosecutors said. Bogu then put poison, which she had prepared and Zhang had brought, into Heywood's mouth.
Prosecutors said the facts of the two defendants poisoning the victim were clear and the evidence was substantial.
Their behavior violated Article 232 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China. Therefore, the defendants should be held criminally responsible for intentional homicide. The case was a joint offense with Bogu as the principal and Zhang the accessory, prosecutors said.
The People's Procuratorate of Hefei City in east China filed charges against Bogu and Zhang at the Hefei Intermediate People's Court on July 26.
The court accepted the case according to a decision designating jurisdiction by the Supreme People's Court, and delivered a copy of the indictment to the two defendants. The court also informed them and Heywood's close relatives of their rights and obligations.
The defendants' lawyer had access to the entire case file, fully ensuring the litigation rights of the defendants.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence, witnesses appeared in court to testify, and defense counsel entrusted by the two defendants pleaded on their behalf.
An attorney representing Heywood's close relatives was present and made comments.
More than 140 people attended, including British diplomats, media representatives, deputies to China's legislature, members of China's political advisory body and others from all walks of life.
After yesterday's session, the court adjourned and said a judgment would be announced on a day to be decided.
The court said that four police officers, who were suspected of covering up Bogu's conduct during an investigation into Heywood's death, were charged by the Hefei People's Procuratorate with bending the law to achieve personal benefits.
They were named as Guo Weiguo, former deputy chief of Chongqing's Public Security Bureau, Li Yang, former chief of the bureau's criminal section, Wang Pengfei, former chief of the bureau's technical detection team and also former chief of the Public Security Sub-bureau of Chongqing's Yubei District, and Wang Zhi, former executive deputy chief of the Public Security Sub-bureau of the municipality's Shapingba District.
The court is holding an open trial of the officers today.
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