China prosecutes Bo Xilai's wife for murder

BEIJING - Agence France-Presse

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The wife of disgraced Chinese political leader Bo Xilai and an orderly working in the couple's home have been prosecuted for murder, state news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday.
 
Gu Kailai, a former international lawyer whose husband was one of China's most promising political leaders until his downfall earlier this year, was "recently" prosecuted by a Chinese court, Xinhua said in a brief dispatch.
 
Zhang Xiaojun, previously described as an orderly who worked for the high-flying couple, was also prosecuted, it said, citing authorities.
 
Xinhua said earlier this year that Gu and Zhang were suspected of murdering Neil Heywood, a British businessman who had commercial dealings with Bo and his wife.
 
The scandal, which first came to light in February, sent shockwaves through the highest echelons of power in China and led to Bo being sacked from his post as Communist Party leader of the megacity of Chongqing.

Analysts say it has exposed deep divisions within the Communist Party ahead of a crucial, once-in-a-decade leadership transition due to take place this autumn.
 
Thursday's announcement came a week after Patrick Devillers, a French architect said to have been close to Gu, travelled to China to assist in the official enquiry into her.