China says Gu Kailai's lawyer didn't contest murder charge
The lawyer acting for disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai's wife did not contest a murder charge against her during Thursday's hearing, a court official said, adding the trial had now ended.
The prosecution alleged that Gu Kailai personally gave poison to 41-year-old British businessman Neil Heywood after the pair drank wine together and he became drunk, said court official Tang Yigan after the trial.
Gu's government-appointed lawyer did not challenge the claim, telling the court she ‘was responsible’, but that her cooperation during the investigation should be taken into account, Tang told journalists at a briefing.
A lawyer acting for Zhang Xiaojun, who is also accused in Heywood's murder, also did not raise any objection to the charge during the brief, one day hearing in the Hefei Intermediate Court in eastern China, said Tang.
Zhang is accused of having carried the poison when Gu went to visit Heywood on November 13 in his hotel room in the southwestern city of Chongqing, said the court official, reading from a prepared script.
Tang said the verdict in the case would be given at a later date.
Analysts believe Gu and Zhang are all but certain to be found guilty in the trial, which they say is an attempt to draw a line under a scandal that has brought down Bo and exposed deep divisions among China's leaders.
State news agency Xinhua said even before the trial began that there was ‘irrefutable and substantial’ evidence against the pair.
Post new comment