- Gu Kailai admits to murdering British businessman Neil Heywood, state media says
- She is the husband of Bo Xilai, who had been a prominent Chinese politician
- She and aide accused of poisoning British businessman Neil Heywood in November
(CNN) -- The wife of a former top Chinese politician has admitted to murdering a British businessman, blaming a "total breakdown" for her actions, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The closely watched trial of Gu Kailai took place Thursday, adjourning in the afternoon without the announcement of a verdict, said Tang Yigan, deputy head of the Hefei Intermediate People's Court.
She and an aide to her family, Zhang Xiaojun, were accused of poisoning British businessman Neil Heywood in a hotel room in the city of Chongqing last November.
Chinese authorities had previously said that Gu and her son had "conflicts" with Heywood "over economic interests" and that she was motivated to kill the Briton because of fears for her son's safety.
The saga involving her husband, Bo Xilai -- who until earlier this year had appeared destined to join the elite committee of leaders at the top of China's ruling party -- and Gu has become the most sensational Chinese political scandal in recent memory. It created an extraordinary set of challenges for the central government as it prepares for a once-in-a-decade leadership transition later this year.
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