The British businessman whose death in China has sparked an international crisis was held down while poison was poured into his mouth, sensational accounts of the crime have alleged.
Heywood, 41, was found dead in a secluded hotel near Congqing in November.
He was a friend of the family of Bo Xilai, a former rising star in Chinese politics who served as local party chief but was suspended from the Politburo in April amid allegations of "serious discipline violations".
Chinese authorities initially said it was down to alcohol overconsumption, but after a police chief from the region attempted to defect to America the murky truth of the killing began to emerge.
According to the Daily Yomiuri, a senior party official held a briefing on 10 April in which he revealed the method of death.
The official alleged that Bo's wife, Gu Kailai, and a servant named Zhang Xiojun, were behind the killing.
"They tried to poison Heywood with a drink, but he spat it out," the official said. "The two people then forcibly held Heywood down, and poured the poison into his mouth."
Another official said: "The item Heywood spat out was retrieved and stored by the deputy chief of the Chongqing Public Security Bureau, and that has become a decisive piece of evidence."
British foreign secretary Willia Hague said this week that Foreign Office staff were aware on 18 January of rumours that there may have been suspicious circumstances.
But it was not until after a former Chongqing vice-mayor and chief of police Wang Lijun raised the concerns with the US consulate on 6 February that officials informed Hague.
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The British businessman whose death in China has sparked an international crisis was held down while poison was poured into his mouth, sensational accounts of the crime have alleged.
Japanese newsp...
The British businessman whose death in China has sparked an international crisis was held down while poison was poured into his mouth, sensational accounts of the crime have alleged.
Japanese newsp...
China has vowed to "thoroughly investigate" events surrounding the suspected murder of British businessman Neil Heywood. The ruling Communist Party made the commitment just hours...
Prime Minister David Cameron is "likely" to raise the death of British businessman Neil Heywood when he meets a senior Chinese Communist Party official in...
By Chris Buckley CHONGQING, China, April 16 (Reuters) - The British businessman whose murder has sparked political upheaval in China was poisoned after he threatened...
Seems like the Chinese Politburo are out to totally destroy Bo Xilai and his family without any evidence. Rumours and allegations don't prove anything. Presumably, there were no samples taken post-mortem to show/suggest cyanide poisoning or the body would not have been disposed of.
We have also heard that Neil Heywood was a spy, where is the evidence? If he was, then the actions of the Chinese might make more sense - kill the spy and destroy his contacts - but this is only adding to the speculation.....The Chinese need to come up with more hard evidence (preferably without torture) rather than this nonsense.
buchanallan: Seems like the Chinese Politburo are out to totally destroy
China has come a long way in 50 years (maybe). I visited the country several times in the sixties and although things may look different today, (I emphasise the word look), have things changed much from when we all had to carry our little red book and a shore-pass with a picture of Mao on it?
wincanton__man: China has come a long way in 50 years (maybe).
And we still have people in this country who dont condone torture, until all the other nations stop torturing Brits we should join in. its all well and good saying turn the other cheek, what about do unto others as they do unto you.
Fozwords: And we still have people in this country who dont
Where is the torture? Those I know who have run sub-lethally foul of cyanide, or of like potent anti-oxidants acting on the same enzyme, report the experience as painless - whatever tales circulate among those who have never knowingly met a single molecule (which we all have, cyanide is quite common in plants, including food-plants). Some even like the taste.
Murder does not justify torture, and conversely.
PGU: Where is the torture? Those I know who have run
Gradually unfolding story. Surely he was a spy (not likely to be admitted), and I doubt that a small woman and one man could administer poison without some other factors/people.
Oncewas12: Gradually unfolding story. Surely he was a spy (not likely
Scientifically, rather more credible than earlier claims that cyanide was administered, untasted, at a public banquet, to implausibly delayed effect. Though I would have thought it took more than two people, one being presumptively a woman, to administer it by force to an alerted victim. But tales always grow taller with time.
PGU: Scientifically, rather more credible than earlier claims that cyanide was
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Huffington Post UK | By Michael Rundle Posted: 20/04/2012 14:56 Updated: 20/04/2012 15:07