Hefei, China (CNN) -- The murder trial of Gu Kailai, the wife of a recently deposed top official in the Chinese Communist Party, has begun in the eastern China city of Hefei, local officials said Thursday. 

Gu and a family aide, Zhang Xiaojun, are accused of poisoning Neil Heywood, a British businessman who was found dead in the southwestern Chinese metropolis of Chongqing in November. 

The trial is the latest phase in the fall from grace of the prominent family of Bo Xilai, Gu's husband, who until earlier this year had appeared destined to join the elite committee of leaders at the top of China's ruling party. 

The saga has become the most sensational Chinese political scandal in recent years, creating an extraordinary set of challenges for the central government as it prepares for a once-in-a-decade leadership transition later this year. 

Heywood, a 41-year-old British citizen, was found dead in a hotel in Chongqing, the city where Bo was the Communist Party chief. But the trial is taking place in Hefei, in Anhui province, more than 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) east of Chongqing, where lingering support for Bo and his family remains. 

"This is definitely more than a criminal trial," said Wenran Jiang, a professor of political science at the University of Alberta. He added that the process is being closely watched for signs of what might happen to Bo, who is being investigated for "serious discipline violations" after being removed from his Chongqing and party posts. 

Gu's family had wanted to hire two prominent Beijing lawyers to represent her, but Chinese authorities have chosen two local attorneys to form her defense team, a family friend told CNN on Wednesday.  QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. Where was the body discovered?
2. Where was the dead man found?
3. In what metropolis was Neil Heywood discovered?
Q2:
1. Was Neil Heywood found in a gas station?
2. Was the location of Neil Heywood a gas station?
3. Did authorities come across Neil Heywood's body in a gas station?
Q3:
1. What was the location of Neil Heywood's body?
2. Where exactly was Neil Heywood's body found?
3. In what location was Neil Heywood's corpse discovered?
Q4:
1. How old was Neil Heywood?
2. How old was the murder victim?
3. What was Neil Heywood's age?
Q5:
1. What country was Neil Heywood a citizen of?
2. In what nation was Neil Heywood a citizen?
3. Which country did Neil Heywood have citizenship for?
Q6:
1. How is Wenran Jiang employed?
2. What is Wenran Jiang's occupation?
3. What does Wenran Jiang do for a living?
Q7:
1. In what domain is Wenran Jiang's professorship?
2. What is Wenran Jiang a professor of?
3. What subject does Wenran Jiang give courses in?
Q8:
1. Does Wenran Jiang teach at high school?
2. Is Wenran Jiang a high school teacher?
3. Does Wenran Jiang give political science courses at a high school?
Q9:
1. Does Wenran Jiang teach at college?
2. Is Wenran Jiang a college professor?
3. Does Wenran Jiang give political science courses at a university?
Q10:
1. Where is Gu Kailai being put on trial for murder?
2. What is the location of Gu Kailai's murder trial?
3. In what city is Gu Kailai facing murder charges?
Q11:
1. Was Gu Kailai married?
2. Did Gu Kailai have a husband?
3. Was Gu Kailai someone's wife?
Q12:
1. Who was Gu Kailai married to?
2. Who was Gu Kailai's husband?
3. What kind of person was Gu Kailai married to?
Q13:
1. Did Gu Kailai's husband come from a particular party?
2. Was Gu Kailai's husband an official in a political party?
3. Was Gu Kailai married to someone representing any party in particular?
Q14:
1. What party was Gu Kailai's husband an official for?
2. Which political party did Gu Kailai's husband represent?
3. What political party did Gu Kailai's husband come from?
Q15:
1. Does Gu Kailai use a family aide?
2. Does Gu Kailai receive help from family?
3. Is someone from Gu Kailai's family assisting her?
