By Daily Mail Reporter PUBLISHED: 09:37 EST, 3 August 2012 | UPDATED: 09:38 EST, 3 August 2012 The wife of an ousted Chinese politician will go on trial next week for the murder of a British businessman. Gu Kailai, the wife of former Communist Party Politburo member Bo Xilai, is accused of poisoning Neil Heywood with cyanide after he allegedly threatened her son in a row over money. A family aide - Zhang Xiaojun - has also been charged. If Gu, 53, is found guilty of the murder she could face the death penalty. Victim and suspect: Chinese prosecutors are charging Gu Kailai (right), the wife of a top Communist Party official, with the murder of British businessman Paul Heywood (left)
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Gu Kailai, 53, charged with the murder of Neil Heywood along with family 'aide' Zhang Xiaojun
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Heywood, 41, found dead in hotel room in China last November
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Gu's trial to start on Thursday - she faces the death penalty if found guilty
Scandal: Reports have claimed that Mr @placeholder helped Gu, pictured, to smuggle money out of China