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Neil Heywood

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Neil Heywood
Heywood in China
Born(1970-10-20)20 October 1970[1]
Kensington, London, England
Died14 November 2011(2011-11-14) (aged 41)
Chongqing, China
Cause of deathHomicide
Alma materUniversity of Warwick
Occupations
  • Consultant
  • businessman
SpouseWang Lulu
Children2

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).

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.[2]

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 that Bo's family was involved in corruption.[3] The incident precipitated Bo's high-profile sacking two weeks later.[3] 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",[4][5] according to Xinhua News.[6] On 26 July 2012, Gu Kailai was charged with the murder of Heywood[7] and in August was convicted of the crime.

Personal life

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Born in 1970, Heywood attended Harrow School, an independent school for boys.[8] He graduated in international relations from the University of Warwick.[9]

Fluent in Chinese, Heywood spent more than a decade in China. He was married to Wang Lulu (王露露), a Chinese national from Dalian, and the couple had two children; a boy named George, and a daughter, Olivia, who were ages 7 and 11, respectively, at the time of his death. Both children attend the Beijing branch of Dulwich College.[10][11][12]

The family lived in a private, tree-lined neighbourhood of villas on the outskirts of Beijing. Heywood drove a Jaguar S-Type, with a Union Jack bumper sticker.[13]

Career

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Heywood served as an intermediary, linking Western companies wishing to do business in China to powerful figures in the Chinese political structure.[14] Heywood ran a company named Heywood Boddington Associates, registered to his mother's house in London. In its filings, it claims to be a "multi-discipline consultancy focusing on serving the interests of UK businesses in the People's Republic of China".[9]

Heywood developed a business relationship with Gu Kailai, a lawyer, businesswoman, and the wife of Bo Xilai. Both Gu and Bo are children of once-prominent members of the Chinese Communist Party. Heywood appears to have played the role of a Bai Shoutao or white glove for the Bo family, doing business on their behalf, since, according to Chinese custom, a prominent party family could not involve themselves directly with financial dealings.[15]

Businessmen have complained that any foreign company wishing to work in Chongqing had to appoint Gu Kailai's law firm, Kailai Law (now Beijing Ang-dao Law), to act on its behalf. Failing to do so would almost certainly result in it being unable to attain required permissions and licences. It has been reported that Kailai Law charged exorbitant fees.[14]

Heywood's clients included Beijing Aston Martin dealerships and Rolls-Royce. He was also hired occasionally by Hakluyt & Company, a consultancy co-founded by a former officer of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (MI6).[14][16][17]

Rumors that Heywood might have been employed as an agent by MI6 have been denied by Foreign Secretary William Hague, an unusual move, as the British government typically refuses to comment on the identity of its agents.[18] The Wall Street Journal later reported they had confirmed, after interviewing former and current British officials and others, that Heywood had since 2009 been regularly supplying information to MI6, although he was not an MI6 employee.[17][19]

Relationship with Bo Xilai and Gu Kailai

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Heywood had business links with Gu Kailai, the wife of Bo Xilai.[20] He reportedly met with the Bo family in Dalian, the northeast metropolis where Bo was mayor from 1994 to 2000. Heywood was then working at a Dalian English-language school, and helped Bo's youngest son gain admission to Harrow.[16] The Daily Telegraph reports that Heywood and Gu "shared a long and close personal relationship, but were not romantically involved."[21]

Following a corruption investigation in 2007, Gu is said to have become increasingly paranoid. In 2010, she allegedly asked Heywood and other close associates to divorce their spouses and swear allegiance to her.[22]

The Daily Telegraph reported that Gu Kailai testified Heywood was murdered because he demanded £1.4 million in compensation for the return of a half-share of ownership of a £2 million house – originally bought by Gu in 2000 – in the hills overlooking Cannes. The court heard Heywood had blackmailed the family and threatened to expose their corrupt ownership of a villa in the French Riviera. As Heywood's relationship with the Bo–Gu family descended into acrimony, Gu stated that Heywood had threatened the safety of Bo's 25-year-old son, Bo Guagua.[23]

Death

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On 14 November 2011, Heywood was summoned to Chongqing by Gu Kailai. [citation needed] She sent Zhang Xiaojun (张晓军) to bring him from Beijing to the Nanshan Lijing Holiday Hotel (南山丽景度假酒店).[24][25] Zhang Xiaojun is described as an 'orderly' in the Bo household. Aged 32, he used to serve as a bodyguard for Bo Yibo. He is also listed as the supervisor of the Guagua Technology Company, belonging to Bo Guagua.[25]

The Nanshan Lijing Holiday Hotel is a secluded, three-star hilltop retreat, also marketed as the Lucky Holiday Hotel.[24][25] Gu Kailai hosted a banquet there in the past, but according to two sources quoted by The Daily Telegraph, she was not at the scene at the time of Heywood's murder.[26] The hotel is located in and overlooks Nan'an District.

Heywood was found in his hotel room, 26 hours after his death. The cause of death was given as alcohol poisoning. There was no autopsy, and he was cremated days later. Questions were raised later as friends described him as "not a serious drinker"[27] (some reports have his family describing him as "a teetotaler").[28]

An internal Chinese report confirmed that Heywood died from potassium cyanide added to his drink.[24][29] However, further investigations led to new findings suggesting the death of Heywood was a murder committed by Gu Kailai.[30]

Aftermath

[edit]

Wang Lijun, who was the head of Chongqing police department as well as the vice mayor of Chongqing, was in charge of the investigation. According to a CPC internal report,[31][32] Wang and his lieutenants were said to be under political pressure during the investigations. Soon Wang found the murder was related to Bo, who had been his superior for more than 10 years. After submitting the investigation report to Bo Xilai, Wang was suspended by Bo. Some of the police officers who participated in the investigation were arrested.[citation needed]

In February 2012, Wang fled to the US consulate in Chengdu, precipitating the so-called Wang Lijun incident. On 14 March 2012, the Dalian-based billionaire Xu Ming, a close associate of Bo, disappeared. It was speculated that he was under arrest. Reports suggest Heywood's wife was employed by Xu.[33][34] On 15 March 2012, Bo was removed from his post of party chief for Chongqing.[34]

On 10 April 2012, Bo was suspended from the Politburo and suspected of being involved in "serious disciplinary violations".[4][5] The same day, the state-run Xinhua News Agency said that, according to the reinvestigation, the evidence indicated Heywood was a victim of homicide, of which Bo Xilai's wife, Gu Kailai, and Zhang Xiaojun, her bodyguard, were "strongly suspected".[4][5][35] Bo was placed under house arrest in Beijing. Gu and Zhang were both arrested.[5]

The Communist Party chief in Nan'an, Xia Zeliang, was detained for questioning in April 2012; the official was a staunch ally of Bo.[36] He was arrested and allegedly confessed that he prepared the poison and handed it to an employee of Bo.

On 13 April 2012, Heywood's widow, Wang Lulu, visited the British Embassy in Beijing, and asked for a visa to travel to the UK with her two young children, reportedly concerned that the people who had killed her husband might come after her and her family. The entrance to the family's gated compound in Beijing was guarded by troops from the People's Liberation Army, and police ordered her not to communicate with international journalists.[citation needed]

According to The Daily Telegraph of 17 April 2012, UK Prime Minister David Cameron would meet Chinese publicity department head Li Changchun to discuss the Heywood case.[37] The Boxun website reported that Bo's most influential supporter, the 9th ranking Politburo Standing Committee member Zhou Yongkang, was forced to make "tearful self-confessions" to Hu Jintao.[33]

[edit]

On 26 July 2012, Gu Kailai was charged with the murder of Neil Heywood.[7] On 9 August 2012, the trial of Gu was held and lasted only one day, as the defendant did not contest the charges.[38] The same day, four policemen, all senior officers from Chongqing, where the UK businessman was killed, were formally accused of covering up the murder of Heywood and indicted.[38]

On 20 August 2012, the verdict was announced. Gu was sentenced to death but the sentence was suspended, which means that Gu is likely to face from 14 years to life in jail,[39] as long as she does not commit any additional offences in the next two years.[40] Zhang Xiaojun, a Bo family aide, was sentenced to nine years in jail for his involvement in the murder,[39] which he admitted to.[41]

Following the verdict, Britain's embassy in China stated, in an emailed press release, that it had welcomed the investigation, adding "[we] consistently made clear to the Chinese authorities that we wanted to see the trials in this case conform to international human rights standards and for the death penalty not to be applied."[39][40] BBC News commented that "informed observers see the fingerprints of the Communist Party of China all over this outcome", stating that the trial's conclusion was "all too neat and uncannily suited to one particular agenda", that of limiting the scandal's damage.[42]

Both Zhang Xiaojun and Gu Kailai declined to exercise their right to an appeal.[40]

On 14 December 2015, Gu Kailai's sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. The prison authorities said Gu had expressed repentance and had made no intentional offences during their review.[43]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Harrow School Register 2002 8th edition edited by S W Bellringer & published by The Harrow Association
  2. ^ Bristow, Michael (29 March 2012). "China scandal: Bo Xilai allegations 'preposterous'". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  3. ^ a b Walker, Angus (27 March 2012). "A city of silence: Mystery over British businessman's death". itv.com. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  4. ^ a b c Kang Lim, Benjamin (10 April 2012). "China says Bo Xilai's wife suspected of murder China suspends Bo from elite ranks, wife suspected of murder". Reuters. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d "Police reinvestigate death of Neil Heywood according to law". Xinhua News Agency. 10 April 2012. Archived from the original on 13 April 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  6. ^ "China calls for support amid Bo Xilai fall-out". BBC. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Bo Xilai scandal: Gu Kailai charged with Heywood murder". BBC News. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  8. ^ "Expat death in China: Who was Neil Heywood?". BBC News. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  9. ^ a b Jason Lewis; Josie Ensor; Malcolm Moore (31 March 2012). "Neil Heywood 'feared for his safety' as strains grew around Bo Xilai, his powerful Chinese friend". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  10. ^ Malcolm Moore (26 March 2012). "Britain asks China to probe death of UK citizen in Bo Xilai's Chongqing". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  11. ^ "Neil Heywood death: Chinese wife 'suffering'". BBC News. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  12. ^ Michael Sheridan (2 April 2012). "British fixer Neil Heywood's murky death linked to fallen leader Bo Xilai's wife". The Australian. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  13. ^ "Neil Heywood death: Chinese wife 'suffering'". BBC News. 12 April 2012.
  14. ^ a b c Michael Sheridan (2 April 2012). "British fixer Neil Heywood's murky death linked to fallen leader Bo Xilai's wife". The Australian. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  15. ^ Soltis, Andy (17 April 2012). "China's toxic twist". New York Post.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ a b Sharon Lafraniere, John F. Burns (11 April 2012). "Briton's Wanderings Led Him to Heart of a Chinese Scandal". The Washington Post. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  17. ^ a b Jeremy Page (5 November 2012). "Briton Killed in China Had Spy Links". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  18. ^ Branigan, Tania (26 April 2012). "Murdered Briton Neil "Heywood was not employed by MI6, says William Hague". The Guardian.
  19. ^ "Neil Heywood: Briton killed in China 'had spy links'". BBC News. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  20. ^ Bryan-Low, Cassell (27 March 2012). "Heywood's Ties Highlight Secretive Sector". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  21. ^ "Neil Heywood killed "because he threatened to expose Gu Kailai's money trail"". The Daily Telegraph (UK). London. 16 April 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  22. ^ Jeremy Page (12 April 2012). "Fearful Final Hours for Briton in China". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
  23. ^ Moore, Malcolm (23 August 2013). "Bo Xilai: trial hears for first time why Neil Heywood was killed". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  24. ^ a b c "Exclusive: Briton killed after threat to expose Chinese leader's wife: sources". Reuters. 16 April 2012.
  25. ^ a b c Barboza, David (23 April 2012). "Bo Xilai's Relatives' Wealth Is Under Scrutiny". The New York Times.
  26. ^ "Neil Heywood killed 'because he threatened to expose Gu Kailai's money trail'". The Daily Telegraph. London. 16 April 2012.
  27. ^ "Britain asks China to probe death of UK citizen in Bo Xilai's Chongqing". The Daily Telegraph. 26 March 2012.
  28. ^ LaFraniere, Sharon; Burns, John F. (11 April 2012). "Briton's Wanderings Led Him to Heart of a Chinese Scandal". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  29. ^ "Mountain-top hotel where Neil Heywood met his fate". Daily News & Analysis. 17 April 2012.
  30. ^ "Bo Xilai scandal: Gu Kailai charged with Heywood murder". BBC News. 26 July 2012.
  31. ^ Wines, Michael; Ansfield, Jonathan (19 March 2012). "Report on Ousted China Official Shows Effort at Damage Control". The New York Times.
  32. ^ "More Details exposed about Bo Xilai". BBC Chinese.
  33. ^ a b David Eimer; Ensor, Josie; Lewis, Jason (21 April 2012). "Neil Heywood death: how news of an Old Harrovian's murder went straight to Barack Obama". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  34. ^ a b "The parallel rise of Bo Xilai and a business ally". Euronews. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012.
  35. ^ Moore, Malcolm (19 April 2012). "Bo Xilai 'responsible for two more deaths'". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  36. ^ Lafraniere, Sharon; Wines, Michael (16 April 2012). "Overseas Money Transfers Alleged in Bo Xilai Scandal". The New York Times.
  37. ^ Malcolm Moore (17 April 2012). "Briton 'was poisoned after threatening to expose Bo's web of money'". The Daily Telegraph (UK). p. 14.
  38. ^ a b "Bo Xilai scandal: Police 'admit Neil Heywood cover-up'". BBC News. 10 August 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  39. ^ a b c "Bo Xilai scandal: Gu Kailai jailed over Heywood murder". BBC News. 19 August 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  40. ^ a b c Ruwitch, John (20 August 2012). "China's Gu Kailai gets suspended death sentence". Reuters. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  41. ^ "Chinese politician's wife convicted of murder". Al Jazeera. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  42. ^ John Sudworth (20 August 2012). "Bo Xilai casts long shadow over Gu Kailai case". BBC News. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  43. ^ "Death Sentence Reduced to Life in Prison for Wife of Bo Xilai". China Radio International. 14 December 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015.
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