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

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.

"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.

The Wall Street Journal 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.