Former Politburo member Bo Xilai wife, Gu Kailai, chose not to contest the charge of murdering British businessman Neil Heywood, whose alleged secretive dealings with the couple fuelled a scandal exposing the intimate nexus between money and power in China's elite.

The dramatic account of Heywood's death by poisoning is also likely to sound the death knell to Bo's political career, even as sympathisers cast him as the victim of a push to oust him and discredit his left-leaning agenda. Bo ruled a vast municipality until he was sacked in March.

Gu's co-accused, Zhang Xiaojun, also did not raise objections to the charge of intentional homicide.

On state television Gu, wearing a dark pants suit and a white shirt, appeared to have put on weight since she was detained earlier this year. She and Zhang face the death penalty if convicted.