Bogu Kailai at the hearing. Photo: AFP

The intentional homicide trial of Bogu Kailai and Zhang Xiaojun began Thursday in the Hefei City Intermediate People's Court in Anhui Province.

Prosecutors said Bogu and her son, surnamed Bo, had conflicts with British businessman Neil Heywood over economic interests. Worried about the threat Heywood posed to her son's personal security, prosecutors alleged Bogu decided to murder Heywood.

The prosecutors went on to say that Bogu asked Zhang Xiaojun, the other defendant, who was then an employee of the general office of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), to invite Heywood to Chongqing in Southwest China and to accompany him from Beijing. It was claimed that Heywood stayed in Room No.1605 of the No.16 building of a vacation resort, the Lucky Holiday Hotel, in Chongqing.

The court heard claims that on November 13 last year, Bogu met Heywood in his hotel room for a drink and that after Heywood was drunk, he vomited and asked for water. The prosecutors said that this was when Bogu added poison, which Zhang had brought along to the hotel room,  leading to Heywood's death.

The prosecution said the facts surrounding the circumstance of the poisoning were clear and the evidence is substantial.

Their behavior has violated Article 232 of the Criminal Law code; therefore, the two defendants should be held criminally responsible for intentional homicide, according to the prosecution.

The case is a joint offense with Bogu as the principal and Zhang as the accessory, the prosecutors said.

The Hefei court accepted the case according to the decision made by the Supreme People's Court, and delivered a copy of the indictment in a timely manner to the two defendants, Bogu and Zhang, and also informed the two defendants and the close relatives of the victim of their legal rights and obligations.

The court instructed the defendant's lawyer to meet the clients and gave the lawyer access to the entire case file, fully ensuring the legal rights of Bogu, Zhang and the close relatives of the victim.

The Hefei court began the public trial on Thursday, after following the legal procedure of issuing a notice before the trial and making a public announcement. 

During the trial, procuratorial authorities presented relevant evidence, witnesses appeared in court to testify, and defense counsel chosen by Bogu and Zhang to represent them pleaded on their behalf.

Gu's lawyer did not challenge the charge, but said she had "made significant contributions by reporting offences by other people" and her cooperation should be taken into account, court official Tang Yigan told journalists, according to AFP.

An attorney representing Heywood's close relatives was present during the trial and made comments.

More than 140 people attended the trial. They included relatives and friends of Bogu, Zhang and Heywood, diplomats from the British embassy and consulates in China, representatives from the media, deputies to China's legislature, members of China's political advisory body, as well as people from all walks of life.

After Thursday's court session, the court announced an adjournment and that the judgment will be announced on a day to be decided.

Four other police officers, who were suspected of covering up Bogu's illegal conduct during the investigation into Heywood's death, will be tried on Friday on charges of bending the law to achieve personal benefit.