Timeline: The Heywood Investigation
Updated: 3:31am UK, Monday 20 August 2012
The death of British businessman Neil Heywood has caused ripples across China.
:: November 15, 2011 - Neil Heywood is found dead in a hotel in Chongqing in central China
:: November 16, 2011 - The British Government is informed and told he died of "excessive alcohol consumption"
:: November 18, 2011 - His body is cremated without an post-mortem being performed
:: February 6, 2012 - Former police chief Wang Lijun makes allegations about Mr Heywood's death
:: March 15, 2012 - Bo Xilai is sacked as Communist Party chief in Chongqing
:: March 26, 2012 - Britain asks China to investigate Mr Heywood's death after being made aware of "suspicions and rumours surrounding the death"
:: April 10, 2012 - Bo's wife Gu Kailai is named a suspect after Chinese authorities launch a probe into the Briton's death
:: April 16, 2012 - News reports claim Mr Heywood was poisoned after threatening to expose the financial dealings of Gu
:: April 17, 2012 - Prime Minister David Cameron raises Mr Heywood's death during a meeting with Li Changchun, a top Chinese Communist official, who visited Downing Street for trade talks
:: July 26, 2012 - Gu is charged with the murder of Mr Heywood
:: August 9, 2012 - Gu admits to the murder in court and blames a mental breakdown and fears for her son's welfare.
:: August 20, 2012 - A Chinese court hands down a commuted death sentence for Gu. The sentence will likely be commuted to life imprisonment.
