Bo Xilai timeline: from Communist powerbroker to corruption charges

14 November 2011 Neil Heywood dies in the south-west city of Chongqing, where Bo Xilai is party secretary. Chinese officials tell his family and British officials that the 41-year-old businessman, who had ties with Bo's family, died because of excessive alcohol consumption. 2 February 2012 Wang Lijun, the vice-mayor and police chief of Chongqing and a key ally of Bo, is reshuffled to a non-police role amid rumours he faces a corruption investigation. 7 February Microblog users begin posting pictures of the US consulate in Chengdu surrounded by police officers, and speculate – correctly – that Wang has fled there. 8 February The Chongqing government publishes a microblog message saying Wang is suffering from stress owing to overwork and is receiving "vacation-style therapy". 9 February The state news agency Xinhua confirms that Wang went to the US consulate and spent more than a day there. It says he is under investigation. 9 March Bo defends himself at a press conference during the National People's Congress in Beijing, denying he has offered to resign and attacking critics for "pouring filth" on his family. 14 March The Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao, uses his annual press conference to criticise Bo . 26 July Xinhua reports that Bo's wife, Gu Kailai, and family aide Zhang Xiaojun have been charged with Heywood's murder. 9 August Gu and Zhang stand trial for the murder of Heywood. The trial lasts only a few hours . 20 August Gu is found guilty of Heywood's murder and given a suspended death sentence, usually commuted to life imprisonment. 5 September Wang is charged with covering up the Heywood murder , among other offences. Some analysts suggest that a prosecution of Wang is paving the way for charges to be brought against Bo. 17 September Wang's trial begins in secret , due to the case's sensitivity. 19 September State media reports of the trial implicate Bo in a criminal act for the first time, increasing the chances of him facing charges. 24 September Wang is found guilty and sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment . The relatively lenient jail term – the charges he faced could carry the death penalty – recognises extenuating circumstances, such as his confession. 28 September Bo is expelled from the Communist party and faces charges of corruption and abuse of power, as well as other crimes.