The reputations of Bo and Wang were largely built on a campaign against organized crime targeting thousands of wealthy businessmen in Chongqing that appealed to popular resentment towards widespread corruption.

FORBES: China Replaces Scandalized Party Chief

Some analysts doubt if Mr Wang would have dared to take the issue of Mr Heywood's death up with Mr Bo unless other circumstances had compelled him.

ECONOMIST: Shattering the fa?ade

But the likelihood of Mr. Wang going to trial appeared to increase last week when an official account of the proceeding suggested that Mr. Bo had interfered in the case of the murdered Briton, Neil Heywood.

WSJ: Chinese Court Sentences Ex-Police Chief Wang Lijun to 15 Years

During his 30 hours inside the consulate, Mr Wang told the Americans that he had been dismissed as police chief after confronting Mr Bo with his suspicions of a link between his boss's family and Mr Heywood's death, and that he feared for his own life.

ECONOMIST: Shattering the fa?ade