Neil Heywood
Neil Heywood (20 October 1970 – 14 November 2011) was an English businessman who worked in China. He was associated with Bo Xilai (the former Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary for Chongqing, and a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party).
Neil Heywood | |
|---|---|
Heywood in China | |
| Born | 20 October 1970 Kensington, London, England |
| Died | 14 November 2011 (aged 41) Chongqing, China |
| Cause of death | Homicide |
| Alma mater | University of Warwick |
| Occupations |
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| Spouse | Wang Lulu |
| Children | 2 |
Heywood was found dead in a hotel room in Chongqing, and initial official reports (which have subsequently been challenged) attributed his death to alcohol poisoning. Media reports have suggested the former chief of police under Bo, Wang Lijun, may have had information concerning Heywood's death.
Months after Heywood's death (6 February 2012), Wang fled to the US consulate in Chengdu, and allegedly told US diplomats of Heywood having been poisoned, and Bo's family was involved in corruption. The incident precipitated Bo's high-profile sacking two weeks later. According to a reinvestigation by the Chinese authorities, evidence indicates Heywood was murdered, with Bo Xilai's wife Gu Kailai and Zhang Xiaojun, an orderly at Bo's home, being "highly suspected", according to Xinhua News. On 26 July 2012, Gu Kailai was charged with the murder of Heywood and in August was convicted of the crime.