Gu gets suspended death sentence

A Chinese court gave the wife of ousted Communist Party chief Bo Xilai a suspended death sentence in the killing of a British businessman, a lawyer said Monday. At the sensational trial, the 53-year-old Gu Kailai, herself once a prominent lawyer, could have received the death penalty in the poisoning of Neil Heywood last November, but the victim's family lawyer, He Zhengsheng, told reporters outside the courthouse in Heifei in China's eastern Anhui province that she got the suspended death sentence, which is normally commuted to life sentence, Britain's Guardian newspaper reported. Zhang Xiaojun, a family aide and fellow accused, was given a nine-year jail sentence, the report said. "I respect the sentence from the court. I have not met the relatives. We will discuss this later. The court had reasons," He said. The court let Gu make a statement but the lawyer gave no details. The court verdict came after Gu's one-day trial on Aug. 9 and since then legal experts had expected the suspended death sentence in view of her mental state at the time of Heywood's death. Gu, who did not contest the charges, had told the court she was driven to killing him as she feared for the life of her son. The Guardian said Gu also had reportedly sought a lighter sentence for the 33-year-old Zhang. Bo, a fast-rising party official on track to become a Politburo member, was the party chief of the large city of Chongqing before being ousted in March for alleged disciplinary violations. Gu's trial was seen as being of enormous significance given her husband's stature prior to his downfall and of its timing ahead of China's once-a-decade leadership change set for later this year. Prior to the court verdict, there had not been much prior coverage of in the Chinese media. the Los Angeles Times had reported there was no jury and few witnesses at the trial. After the proceedings, a court official had told reporters at a nearby hotel that Gu and Zhang had confessed to murdering Heywood. The Guardian said Gu's guilty verdict was never in doubt as China's courts are controlled by the Communist party. But at the same time, the report quoted analysts as saying officials also had to ensure against a lenient court verdict lest it been as bowing to powerful leaders. Though ousted, Bo still remains popular in Chongqing. However, there is as yet no word on what awaits Bo. The BBC reported Bo has not been seen in public since the investigation into Gu was announced in April. The report said his wife is expected to serve at least 14 years in prison.