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Gu Kailai, wife of deposed Chinese political leader Bo Xilai, was investigated on suspicion of murdering a former family friend.

The wife of disgraced Chinese politican Bo Xilai will be tried for the murder of a British businessman on August 9, a lawyer for the family told AFP on Friday.

State media said last week that Gu Kailai, a former international lawyer, had been charged with intentional homicide in the death of Briton Neil Heywood and would face trial in the eastern city of Hefei.

On Friday the family's lawyer Shen Zhigeng told AFP by telephone that the trial would take place on August 9.

China's official news agency Xinhua said last week there was "irrefutable and substantial" evidence that Ms. Gu and Zhang Xiaojun, who worked for the Bo family, had poisoned Heywood.

Investigation results showed that Ms. Gu had clashed with Mr. Heywood over "economic interests", said Xinhua.

Mr. Heywood was found dead in a hotel room in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing last November and his death was initially blamed on excessive alcohol consumption.

Ms. Gu's husband Bo was one of China's most prominent political leaders until his downfall earlier this year, which sent shockwaves through China.

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