Analysis: Transcript tells of night Gu poisoned victim in hotel room

Published on 10/08/2012 01:23

Excerpts from a translated account of the trial issued by the court in Heifei refer to Ms Gu by her official name, Bogu Kailai

The Hefei People’s Procuratorate,” it reads “charged that the accused Bogu Kailai and her son Bo became involved in a dispute over economic interests with the victim, Neil Heywood. Bogu Kailai believed that Neil Heywood had threatened the personal safety of her son Bo, and decided to kill him. She then arranged for the co-accused Zhang Xiaojun – an employee of the Chongqing Municipal Party Committee office – to invite and accompany Heywood from Beijing to Chongqing.

“On the evening of 13 November 2011, Bogu Kailai went to Heywood when he was staying in the Nanshan Lijing Holiday Hotel and drank alcoholic drinks and tea with him. After Heywood became intoxicated, vomited and asked for a drink of water, she poured a poison into his mouth that had been prepared beforehand and that she had given to Zhang Xiaojun to bring along, causing Heywood’s death.

“The Hefei People’s Procuratorate believes that the accused Bogu Kailai and Zhang Xiaojun used brutal means to commit murder, and the facts of the crime are clear and backed by ample evidence. The accused Bogu Kailai and Zhang Xiaojun did not raise objections to the facts and the charge of intentional homicide. The defence lawyers for the accused believed that the victim bore some responsibility for the causes of the case (and) that Bogu Kailai’s capacity for control was weaker than normal people’s at the time of the offence.”