Wife of controversial Chinese politician charged with murder

By Steven Jiang, CNN

updated 11:44 AM EDT, Thu July 26, 2012

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: An analyst says the charges were expected
• Bo Xilai had been one of China's most prominent politicians
• A family aide is also charged
• British businessman Neil Heywood was found dead in a hotel in November

Beijing (CNN) -- The wife of controversial Chinese politician Bo Xilai has been formally charged with murder, the state-run Xinhua news agency said Thursday.

She is Gu Kailai, suspected of killing British businessman Neil Heywood.

Her hu*****and had been one of the country's most prominent politicians until he was sacked as the chief of Chongqing in what has been seen as a political power struggle.