Bo Xilai's fall from grace – timeline

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 Wang Lijun, 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, which is 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 . 15 March Xinhua announces that Bo has been dismissed as party chief of Chongqing . 26 March Britain confirms it has asked China to reinvestigate Heywood's death , citing concerns among the British community. 6 April Neo-Maoist websites that have championed Bo are shut down by authorities. 10 April China announces that Bo's wife, Gu Kailai, and a family employee are in custody, "highly suspected" of Heywood's murder , and that Bo has been suspended from the Politburo and central committee. 24 April Bo's son, Bo Guagua, breaks his silence in a letter published by the Harvard Crimson, a university newspaper, insisting scholarships and family savings paid for his expensive education . 19 June A French architect with ties to the Bo family is reported to be under arrest in Cambodia . Phnom Penh police chief says Patrick Devillers was arrested two weeks ago "with the co-operation of China" and Cambodia it is considering whether to extradite him. 17 July Devillers flies from Cambodia to China as a potential witness. A Cambodian government spokesman says "China wants him as a witness" and has given an assurance he would only be required for up to 60 days before being allowed to return. 26 July Xinhua reports that Gu and a family aide have been charged with Heywood's murder .