Controversy over death of British man in China
- 12 years ago
The wife of a senior Chinese Communist Party politician has been named as a suspect in the murder of Neil Heywood, a British businessman found dead in a hotel in Chongqing last November.
Bo Xilai, the former party chief in Chongqing, has been suspended from both the politburo and the central committee and the decision to name his wife, Gu Kailai, as a murder suspect is likely to rattle leadership succession plans.
With controversy growing over the nature of Heywood's death, the Chinese have now reopened the case following a request from the foreign ministry in London.
William Hague, Britain's foreign minister, has welcomed China's decision.
But the investigation will be far from easy as Heywood's remains were cremated just days after his body was found.
Al Jazeera's Paul Brennan reports from London.
Bo Xilai, the former party chief in Chongqing, has been suspended from both the politburo and the central committee and the decision to name his wife, Gu Kailai, as a murder suspect is likely to rattle leadership succession plans.
With controversy growing over the nature of Heywood's death, the Chinese have now reopened the case following a request from the foreign ministry in London.
William Hague, Britain's foreign minister, has welcomed China's decision.
But the investigation will be far from easy as Heywood's remains were cremated just days after his body was found.
Al Jazeera's Paul Brennan reports from London.