The wife of a disgraced Chinese political leader has been charged with the murder of Wandsworth-born businessman Neil Heywood.

Mr Heywood, 41, was found dead in a hotel room in Chongqing province in November last year, and initial reports said he had died from excessive drinking but it was soon established that he had been poisoned.

The father-of-two's murder triggered the downfall of prominent politician Bo Xilai, 62, in a scandal that rocked Chinese politics when police first linked his wife, Gu Kailai, to the death.

However, last week Chinese state news agency Xinhua has reported that Ms Gu, 53, is now to be prosecuted - although no further details were released.

Another man, Zhang Xiaojun, who was employed at Mr Bo's home, will also face trial for the murder.

Previous nexs reports claimed Mr Heywood may have had an affair with Ms Gu and had helped her siphon nearly £800m of assets overseas.

During his youth Mr Heywood lived in South Lodge, a large stately home, in Latchmere Road with his mother Anne, sister Leonie and father Peter - who died from a heart attack in 2004.

In December last year, a funeral was held for Mr Heywood at St Mary's Church in Battersea which was attended by more than 100 people.

Meanwhile, Mr Bo, 62, has been suspended from the Communist Party and is under investigation for "serious disciplinary violations".