10 Aug 2012

Wife of Chinese official on trial for murder

4:39 am on 10 August 2012

The wife of a former top Chinese politician has gone on trial charged with murdering British businessman Neil Heywood.

Gu Kailai, 53, is accused of poisoning Mr Heywood in 2011 in Chongqing, where her husband Bo Xilai was the Communist party head until his sacking.

State media has called the case against her and an aide "substantial".

Dozens of uniformed and plain-clothes police were stationed around the court building in the city of Hefei, ahead of Ms Gu's arrival.

British diplomats are allowed to attend the trial, but not journalists.