Bo Xilai is the former rising star in China’s ruling Communist Party. He now faces trial for bribery and abuse of power following a scandal that saw his wife convicted of murdering a British businessman.
NOVEMBER 2011 - 15: British businessman Neil Heywood is found dead in a hotel room in Chongqing, a sprawling municipality in southwestern China. Authorities rule the cause of death was a heart attack and his body is quickly cremated.
FEBRUARY 2012 - 2: Bo’s right-hand man and Chongqing police chief Wang Lijun is demoted.
6: Wang visits US embassy in Chengdu reportedly seeking political asylum.
7: Wang leaves US embassy of his own volition.
8: Wang is placed on sick leave for stress and over-work. Sick leave is a term often used as a euphemism for a political purge in China.
MARCH - 2: State news agency Xinhua says Wang has been placed under investigation, giving no further details. - 9: Bo publicly defends his wife during a press conference at the annual meeting of China’s National People’s Congress, or parliament.