China: Bo Xilai Knew Of Bribes Says Wife

Disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai has described his wife as "crazy" after his landmark corruption trial heard testimony from her implicating him in bribery.

The video and written evidence by Gu Kailai directly contradicted Bo's robust defence during the previous day's proceedings, and appears to set the stage for him to be found guilty in China's most dramatic court case in decades.

His wife, once a high-flying lawyer but convicted last year of murdering Neil Heywood, the British businessman whose death sparked the scandal that brought Bo down, looked nervous in the pre-recorded video.

Released by the court on Chinese social media, it had more than one million views in an hour.

She said her husband about knew all about a series of bribes, including cash and a luxury villa on the French Riviera, worth nearly £2m, that prosecutors say was paid for by a businessman friend.

According to the court records, it was a subsequent dispute over these financial dealings that led Gu to poison Mr Heywood in the city of Chongqing, of which her husband was then party chief.

But on the second day of the trial, which lasted seven hours, Bo dismissed his wife's evidence and denied any wrongdoing.

Sky News producer Victoria Wei in Jinan said Bo told the court: "Gu Kailai's testimony is fictional."

Questioning the credibility of her evidence, he added: "Gu Kailai has changed, she's crazy, always tells lies. The investigators put enormous pressure on her, under the circumstance of her mental abnormality, to ask her to expose me."

Bo denied any knowledge of financial gifts, claiming he was too busy on official business to pay attention to domestic matters.

Wei said the trial had also revealed the extravagant life styles of China's top leaders and their families.

According to the testimony given in court, Bo and Gu's only son Bo Guagua - who studied at Harrow and Oxford - used to organise lavish trips for his foreign friends paid for by businessman Xu Ming, who even bought him a Segway, a two-wheeled electric vehicle.

Bo is on trial accused of abuse of power, taking more than $3m (£2.5m) in bribes and embezzlement.

The charges against Bo also include abuse of power in covering up the murder of Mr Heywood.

The politician had been a rising star in China's leadership circles when his career was cut short last year by the scandal involving Gu.

While his populist politics won supporters across China, it is reported his approach alienated party bosses.

According to analysts, behind-the-scenes discussions ahead of the trial have ensured that a guilty verdict by the court is almost certain, with a lengthy prison sentence likely to follow.

Police - uniformed and plain-clothed - blocked off roads around the court again on Friday, with only journalists from state-run media able to gain entry to the proceedings.

The trial which had been widely expected to last no more than two days will now continue on Saturday.