Bo Xilai punched me on the ear, former aide Wang Lijun tells his trial

The trial of Bo Xilai took a dramatic turn yesterday as his former top aide told the court how the disgraced Chongqing party chief punched him when confronted with his wife's involvement in a murder.

Wang Lijun delivered his gripping account seated just a few metres from Bo - their first face-to-face encounter since Bo sacked Wang in February last year. The drama was heightened further when Bo cross-examined his former confidant, whom he described as "two-faced".

Wang, the former Chongqing police chief, who is serving a 15-year jail sentence for bribery, defection and other crimes, said he told Bo in January last year that his wife, Gu Kailai , was suspected of murdering British businessman and family associate Neil Heywood. He testified that Bo's violent response to his accusation against Gu left him fearful for his safety.

"He suddenly threw a punch and hit my left ear," Wang told the Jinan Intermediate People's Court, according to transcripts posted on the court's official microblog. "The corner of my mouth was bleeding; there was fluid coming out of my ear."

Wang said his allies in the Chongqing police had gone missing after his fallout with Bo. He had no choice but to flee to the American consulate in Chengdu a week later, he said.

"It was very dangerous for me at the time," said Wang during his 90-minute appearance in court. "First, I was treated with violence. Then, people who worked for me and the investigators on the case all disappeared."

Bo, who gave his own version of events before Wang entered the court, admitted errors in judgment, but took issue with his longtime subordinate's account. He said he had trouble accepting Wang's claims against Gu because the relationship between the pair was "extremely good". "Gu in my memory was a gentle lady. She couldn't have killed somebody. And she was on very good terms with Wang," he said.