August 20, 2012
Translated by Pang Lei

The Xinhua News Agency has reported that Gu Kailai has been handed a suspended death sentence by the Hefei Intermediate People's Court for the "intentional homicide" of British businessman Neil Heywood.

Gu was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, a sentence that is often commuted to life imprisonment. Gu was also stripped of her political rights for life.

Zhang Xiaojun, who was an employee of the general office of the Chongqing Municipal Party Committee and personal assistant to Gu, was jailed for nine years after being found guilty of the same crime.

According to the Xinhua report, neither Gu Kailai or Zhang Xiaojun plan to appeal the sentence.

In a separate report, Xinhua News Agency also said that four former public security officials from Chongqing had been sentenced for their role in attempting to interfere with an investigation into the causes of Neil Heywood's death.

The four former high-level police officials received sentences ranging from 5 to 11 years prison.

The Xinhua report noted that none of these four men plan to appeal their sentence.

Links and Sources
Xinhua News Agency: 薄谷开来一审被判处死缓
Xinhua News Agency: 重庆公安局原副局长因徇私枉法获刑11年