A Chinese court yesterday handed the wife of disgraced political leader Bo Xilai a suspended death sentence for murder in a case that has rocked the Communist party ahead of a 10-yearly power handover.

Web users posted angry reactions to the suspended death sentence, with many saying Gu was given special treatment as the wife of a former political leader

Gu Kailai was found guilty of murdering British businessman Neil Heywood, a crime she had confessed to, and given the death penalty with two years’ reprieve, court official Tang Yigan told reporters after a brief hearing.

Zhang Xiaojun, an employee of the Bo family charged with helping Ms Gu to poison Mr Heywood, was also found guilty and sentenced to nine years in jail while four police officers were convicted of attempting to cover up the murder.

Mr Tang said the court had suspended Ms Gu’s death sentence because she suffered from psychological problems, and because Mr Heywood had threatened her son, but he gave no indication of how long she would serve.

Suspended death sentences are typically commuted to life in prison in China, although the amount of time served varies.

The law states that a death sentence for murder cannot be commuted to fewer than 20 years in jail, but legal experts say there have been cases where the courts have ordered shorter sentences.

Pictured on state television, her hair short and wearing a plain white shirt and black jacket, Ms Gu told the court she accepted the outcome, which “reflects particular respect to the law, the truth and life”.

Ms Gu confessed during her trial earlier this month in the eastern Chinese city of Hefei to killing Mr Heywood, 41, by pouring poison down his throat, saying he had threatened her son after a business deal went sour.

The case brought down her husband Mr Bo – a charismatic but divisive politician – and exposed deep divisions in the ruling Communist party before a generational handover of power due to start later this year.

Mr Bo had been tipped for promotion to the elite group of party leaders that effectively rules China until the allegations against his wife burst into the open, and he is now under investigation for corruption.

Britain said it welcomed China’s move to investigate Mr Heywood’s death last November, which was initially attributed to a heart attack, although it did not explicitly comment on the verdict.

Even before the hearing began, state news agency Xinhua had said the evidence against Ms Gu was irrefutable, leading many analysts and media commentators to question whether she would be given a fair trial.

“We welcome the fact that the Chinese authorities have investigated the death of Neil Heywood, and tried those they identified as responsible,” Britain’s embassy in Beijing said in a statement.

“We consistently made clear to the Chinese authorities that we wanted to see the trials in this case conform to international human rights standards and for the death penalty not to be applied.”

Two British diplomats attended Ms Gu’s trial – a rare concession in China, where trials involving high-profile political figures are often held in secret.

Political analysts say leaders are eager to draw a line under the controversy, although yesterday’s verdict will likely shift the spotlight back to Mr Bo, who has not been seen since April and is thought to be under house arrest. Mr Bo enjoyed strong public support during his tenure as party chief of the southwestern city of Chongqing for a tough anti-corruption drive, but his Maoist-style “red revival” campaign alienated moderates in the Communist party.

He also flouted convention by openly lobbying for a spot in the party’s top decision-making body, the Politburo Standing Committee.

Wang Lijun, the former Chongqing police chief who first raised questions over Mr Heywood’s death, is also expected to stand trial, but it remains unclear whether Mr Bo himself will be implicated.

Sources who attended Ms Gu’s trial say that there was no reference to Mr Bo.

Xinhua said Ms Gu invited Mr Heywood to Chongqing for a meeting last November, plied him with wine until he became drunk and then poured cyanide mixed with water into his mouth.

The report said she acted after Mr Heywood threatened the couple’s son Bo Guagua, 24.

Chinese web users posted angry reactions to the suspended death sentence, with many saying Ms Gu was given special treatment as the wife of a former political leader.

More than a million posts on Ms Gu could be seen on Sina Weibo – a microblog similar to Twitter, which is banned in China – after she was spared immediate execution.

“Bigwig gets death sentence with reprieve for murder, while common people get immediate execution. Where’s the justice?” posted one Sina Weibo user.