It’s a story of mystery, intrigue—and, ultimately, an untimely death. Who killed British businessman Neil Heywood? A look at Gu Kailai, the prime suspect, and the other major players, from her ambitious husband to her accuser.
Gu Kailai has an impressive pedigree. The daughter of Gen. Gu Jingsheng, a renowned revolutionary, Gu herself is a well-known figure within China. She’s a successful lawyer and has a master’s degree in international politics. But her life didn’t start out as auspiciously. Gu, who is fluent in English, had to work in a butcher’s shop and a textile factory as a young girl. She’s now under investigation for the mysterious death of Briton Neil Heywood.
Reuters
Bo Xilai was a member of China’s ruling Communist Party, serving as the Chongqing party chief, and was seen as a rising star within Chinese politics. But that all changed in mid-March, when he was removed from power amid scandal and allegations that his wife, Gu Kailai, was involved in the death of Neil Heywood in November. Considered one of the most Western-style politicians in China, Bo is now being investigated for violating the strict discipline rules of the party. The son of a prominent founder of the Communist Party in China, Bo was considered a “princeling” of Chinese politics and was popular for fighting organized crime and underpinning his stump speeches with a strong populist message.
Ng Han Guan / AP Photo
Twenty-four-year-old Bo Guagua is the Oxford- and Harvard-educated son of Bo Xilai and Gu Kailai. He was mentored by Neil Heywood, who reportedly helped him get into Harrow in London. But Guagua was something of a celebrity in China, and he became known for wild partying and excessive spending—Harvard classmates say they have seen him driving in a Ferrari and a Porsche. His lavish lifestyle was noted as a contributing factor in the official statement about his father’s fall from power. His behavior was said to be troubling to a party that encourages more modest public behavior. One former government employee told The New York Times, “If you’re discreet, they look the other way. But Guagua’s behavior was striking by the standards; urinating against a fence at Oxford, kissing foreign girls—it all goes down bad in China.”
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Neil Heywood is the British businessman who died alone in a Chongqing hotel room Nov. 15. At first it was claimed his death was not suspicious, but a subsequent investigation determined that he had been poisoned. Gu Kailai and Heywood, who lived in China, had known each other since the 1990s and maintained a close relationship that is now reported to have been romantic. Gu is now in custody on suspicion of his murder.
AP Photo
The 52-year-old police chief and vice mayor of Chongqing once maintained a close relationship with Bo Xilai. But on Jan. 18, Wang presented Bo with evidence that would have implicated his wife, Gu, in Heywood’s death. Although Bo initially supported an investigation, he changed his mind days later and demoted Wang in an effort to stop the probe. On Feb. 6, Wang fled to the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu, possibly seeking asylum, and stayed for 24 hours. Before the Heywood controversy, Wang worked closely with Bo to enforce his activities in Chongqing, and his reputation as a strongman may have complicated requests for asylum. Wang has not been seen since leaving the consulate and being taken into custody by Chinese authorities.
Li Min / Newscom
