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Gu Kailai given suspended death sentence over Neil Heywood murder
Source: The Guardian
Gu Kailai given suspended death sentence over Neil Heywood murder
Tania Branigan in Hefei
guardian.co.uk, Monday 20 August 2012 02.59 BST
Gu Kailai, the wife of disgraced politician Bo Xilai, has escaped the death penalty for murdering Neil Heywood, a lawyer representing the British businessman's family said.
He Zhengsheng told reporters outside the court in Hefei that Gu had been handed a suspended death sentence - usually commuted to life imprisonment after two years - while the family aide Zhang Xiaojun had been jailed for nine years.
He added: "I respect the sentence from the court. I have not met the relatives. We will discuss this later. The court had reasons."
The lawyer said that Gu was allowed to make a statement to the court, but gave no details. He thanked everyone for their concern.
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Tania Branigan in Hefei
guardian.co.uk, Monday 20 August 2012 02.59 BST
Gu Kailai, the wife of disgraced politician Bo Xilai, has escaped the death penalty for murdering Neil Heywood, a lawyer representing the British businessman's family said.
He Zhengsheng told reporters outside the court in Hefei that Gu had been handed a suspended death sentence - usually commuted to life imprisonment after two years - while the family aide Zhang Xiaojun had been jailed for nine years.
He added: "I respect the sentence from the court. I have not met the relatives. We will discuss this later. The court had reasons."
The lawyer said that Gu was allowed to make a statement to the court, but gave no details. He thanked everyone for their concern.
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Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/20/gu-kailai-suspended-death-sentence