The Chinese policeman who revealed the murder of the British businessman Neil Heywood could go on trial within days in a city near the metropolis of Chongqing where he was police chief at the time of the killing last in November.
It was unclear what charges may be brought against Wang Lijun, but treason is one possibility after the man once celebrated as “China’s top cop” tried to defect to a US consulate in Chengdu in February and told diplomats that Mr Heywood, 41, had not died of a heart attack but had been poisoned. He could also face charges in a Chengdu court for his role in covering up the murder.
A one-day hearing of the charges against Gu Kailai was held on Thursday.