China to try former police chief at centre of scandal

Chinese state tv announces former police chief Wang Lijun will go to trial charged with crimes including defection and taking bribes.

Wang is accused of attempting to cover up the murder of British businessman, Neil Heywood - poisoned by the wife of ambitious politician Bo Xilai.

Gu Kailai, last month received a suspended death sentence for the murder, but many loose ends in the case - remain.

Wang had initially gone along with the attempted cover-up, but fled to the U.S. consulate in Chengdu last February to confess.

CCTV didn't say whether Wang would contest any of the charges.

On the streets of Beijing, one resident said he was surprised by the former powerful police chief's dramatic fall from grace.

Office worker Yang Fang said she hoped information would be clearly presented to the public.

Wang could face life in jail on the defection charge, while bribery charges can mean the death penalty.