The murder case roiling China

Bo Xilai was a rising political star until his wife, Gu Kailai, was charged with murder. Here, a guide to the complex, controversial case

The Chinese media is demonizing Gu Kailia
(Image credit: REUTERS)

Why are Bo and Gu important?

Known as "the Kennedys of China,'' the couple had power, popularity, and glamor, and seemed destined to play a major role in the country's future. Bo Xilai, the son of one of Mao Zedong's generals and a leader of the party's left-wing, neo-Maoist faction, was until recently a Politburo member who was climbing toward the top of the Communist Party hierarchy. As party boss of sprawling metropolitan Chongqing, he launched lavish government projects, called for the revival of communist ideology and Mao-era "red songs," and steered a high-profile crackdown on organized crime. Bo's combination of charisma and ruthless ambition, and rumors that he was amassing millions through kickback schemes, made China's party leaders nervous. So did his wife, Gu Kailai, a sophisticated lawyer who wrote a best-selling book that went on to spawn a popular TV drama. Their spectacular ascent came to a sudden end in February, when Bo's police chief, Wang Lijun, showed up at a U.S. consulate with an extraordinary tale.

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