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British businessman Neil Heywood was murdered in 2011 by the wife of former Communist Party politician Bo Xilai. Photo: Reuters

Murdered businessman Neil Heywood's case 'still under negotiation', lawyer says

Lawyer for widow of Briton whose killing brought down Bo Xilai says still negotiating

A lawyer representing the widow of a British businessman whose murder in 2011 led to the downfall of Communist Party heavyweight Bo Xilai said negotiations to settle the case were continuing.

He Zhengsheng , who represents Neil Heywood's widow, Wang Lulu, made the remarks after the businessman's mother said the Chinese authorities had done nothing to "facilitate a solution" to the case.

Widow Wang Lulu
"We are still negotiating with the lawyer of Bo's wife Gu Kailai," He said. Gu was convicted of murdering Heywood and given a suspended death sentence in 2012. Bo, the former Chongqing party chief, was sentenced to life in prison last year on charges of bribery, corruption and abuse of power.

Heywood's mother, Ann, made her first public appeal for compensation in August last year, saying her son's murder had left his two children without financial support.

reported that the family was seeking at least 30 million yuan (HK$37.9 million) for emotional distress and to fund the children's education and living costs.

In her statement, Ann Heywood said nothing had been done for a "promised solution".

"I understand that the Chinese authorities are taking the line that this is purely a private matter, in which they have no responsibility. I find this quite astonishing," the statement said.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she was not aware of the specifics of Heywood's case, but added: "China is a country governed by the rule of law. Personal injury damages come under civil action. Both parties can reach a settlement themselves or file a suit in the courts."

During Gu's trial, the court was told Heywood had demanded US$22 million from Gu over a failed real estate venture and had threatened her son, Bo Guagua, in an email. Gu then poisoned Heywood in a Chongqing hotel because of the threat.

Ann Heywood also made a pointed reference to former security tsar Zhou Yongkang , who was formally placed under investigation for "serious disciplinary violations" in July.

"The Chinese courts … are controlled by the Communist Party (or more accurately by people like Zhou Yongkang, his family, friends and associates, who are notorious for corruption and the abuse of power)," her statement said.

A spokesman at the British embassy in Beijing said: "This is a Chinese process … and so is for the families involved to resolve."

 

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Heywood murder payout still not settled
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