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| Bo Xilai courtroom drama brings new meaning to Chinese show trials | Bo Xilai courtroom drama brings new meaning to Chinese show trials |
| (25 days later) | |
| The case of Bo Xilai, the former Communist party high-flyer brought down after the mysterious death of a British businessman, was a wild courtroom drama full of explosive confessions, unexpected revelations and bruising confrontations. For many Chinese lawyers, the most shocking thing about it was how closely it resembled an actual trial. | The case of Bo Xilai, the former Communist party high-flyer brought down after the mysterious death of a British businessman, was a wild courtroom drama full of explosive confessions, unexpected revelations and bruising confrontations. For many Chinese lawyers, the most shocking thing about it was how closely it resembled an actual trial. |
| After five days of intense witness testimonies and scathing cross-examinations, the trial concluded on Tuesday. Bo – accused of bribery, corruption and abuse of power – put on a stirring show, eloquently defending his principles and ridiculing the prosecution's witnesses. | After five days of intense witness testimonies and scathing cross-examinations, the trial concluded on Tuesday. Bo – accused of bribery, corruption and abuse of power – put on a stirring show, eloquently defending his principles and ridiculing the prosecution's witnesses. |
| "Only a small number of 1.3 billion Chinese have actually been to court, but all of China's lawyers have," said Li Zhuang, a criminal defence attorney lawyer who was once jailed by Bo and whose outspokenness contributed to the politician's undoing. "They know what it's usually like, and drawing comparisons, evaluate the trial in Jinan highly."Li was jailed in January 2010 after defending a crime boss in the southwestern metropolis Chongqing, where Bo was party chief -- he was accused of falsifying evidence, and denied the charge. Other lawyers and activists rallied to his support, decrying his imprisonment as one of many legal abuses associated with Bo's crackdown on organized crime in the city. | "Only a small number of 1.3 billion Chinese have actually been to court, but all of China's lawyers have," said Li Zhuang, a criminal defence attorney lawyer who was once jailed by Bo and whose outspokenness contributed to the politician's undoing. "They know what it's usually like, and drawing comparisons, evaluate the trial in Jinan highly."Li was jailed in January 2010 after defending a crime boss in the southwestern metropolis Chongqing, where Bo was party chief -- he was accused of falsifying evidence, and denied the charge. Other lawyers and activists rallied to his support, decrying his imprisonment as one of many legal abuses associated with Bo's crackdown on organized crime in the city. |
| The outcome of Bo's trial has almost certainly been decided well in advance — in politically sensitive cases, the authorities like to leave nothing to chance - and he will likely be convicted on every charge and sentenced to at least 10 years in prison. Analysts say that Bo was felled by his politics, which had little to do with the charges: the prosecution's most serious allegations concerned a few million pounds illicitly changing hands – peanuts for the Communist party elite. | The outcome of Bo's trial has almost certainly been decided well in advance — in politically sensitive cases, the authorities like to leave nothing to chance - and he will likely be convicted on every charge and sentenced to at least 10 years in prison. Analysts say that Bo was felled by his politics, which had little to do with the charges: the prosecution's most serious allegations concerned a few million pounds illicitly changing hands – peanuts for the Communist party elite. |
| "What we can see are only the surface, which is the performance," said Teng Biao, a prominent human rights lawyer in Beijing. "We can't see the political negotiations happening behind the scenes." | "What we can see are only the surface, which is the performance," said Teng Biao, a prominent human rights lawyer in Beijing. "We can't see the political negotiations happening behind the scenes." |
| Recent politically sensitive cases have been staid and straightforward affairs – last month, former railways minister Liu Zhijun was handed a suspended death sentence for bribery after just three and a half hours in the dock. | Recent politically sensitive cases have been staid and straightforward affairs – last month, former railways minister Liu Zhijun was handed a suspended death sentence for bribery after just three and a half hours in the dock. |
| The run-up to Bo's trial left many observers with little hope that it would be any different. Bo was not allowed to hire his own lawyers, and foreign media was banned from the courtroom. Yet as the courthouse rolled out transcripts of proceedings to its official microblog, it became clear that this was no ordinary criminal trial. | The run-up to Bo's trial left many observers with little hope that it would be any different. Bo was not allowed to hire his own lawyers, and foreign media was banned from the courtroom. Yet as the courthouse rolled out transcripts of proceedings to its official microblog, it became clear that this was no ordinary criminal trial. |
| "More than half of the lawyers in China have been following this case online," said Lan Rongjie, a professor at Zhejiang University's Guanghua law school. Lan said he was shocked by its reliance on live witness testimony, which included new revelations about Bo's dysfunctional family life and his wife's murder of British businessman Neil Heywood, the event that precipitated his downfall. | "More than half of the lawyers in China have been following this case online," said Lan Rongjie, a professor at Zhejiang University's Guanghua law school. Lan said he was shocked by its reliance on live witness testimony, which included new revelations about Bo's dysfunctional family life and his wife's murder of British businessman Neil Heywood, the event that precipitated his downfall. |
| "This is quite unusual for Chinese criminal trials," Lan said. "Usually there are no witnesses – there are written statements, or just transcripts of previous question and answer sessions." | "This is quite unusual for Chinese criminal trials," Lan said. "Usually there are no witnesses – there are written statements, or just transcripts of previous question and answer sessions." |
| Lan and other lawyers said they were hopeful but not optimistic that the trial would become a model for similar cases. "Bo's case was influenced by too many outside factors," said Mo Shaoping, a lawyer who defended imprisoned Nobel peace prize winner Liu Xiaobo and other prominent dissidents. Mo said he was surprised that the judge in Jinan allowed Bo to speak uninterrupted. | Lan and other lawyers said they were hopeful but not optimistic that the trial would become a model for similar cases. "Bo's case was influenced by too many outside factors," said Mo Shaoping, a lawyer who defended imprisoned Nobel peace prize winner Liu Xiaobo and other prominent dissidents. Mo said he was surprised that the judge in Jinan allowed Bo to speak uninterrupted. |
| "This is good because in other sensitive cases, such as Liu Xiaobo's, the judge will often interrupt the defendant's speech and say, 'OK, there's no need to continue,'" he said. | "This is good because in other sensitive cases, such as Liu Xiaobo's, the judge will often interrupt the defendant's speech and say, 'OK, there's no need to continue,'" he said. |
| Yet he added that despite all pretences, the trial was a more political than legal affair. "Bo Xilai was accused of three crimes, but of what he'll be convicted and how many years he'll spend in jail, these aren't decisions that the judge can make." | Yet he added that despite all pretences, the trial was a more political than legal affair. "Bo Xilai was accused of three crimes, but of what he'll be convicted and how many years he'll spend in jail, these aren't decisions that the judge can make." |
| Many analysts say that high-level officials tacitly approved the courtroom drama – including Bo's defiant performance – to avoid alienating the former politician's allies and lend credence to a high-profile anti-corruption drive by China's newly-anointed president Xi Jinping. | Many analysts say that high-level officials tacitly approved the courtroom drama – including Bo's defiant performance – to avoid alienating the former politician's allies and lend credence to a high-profile anti-corruption drive by China's newly-anointed president Xi Jinping. |
| "No doubt, Bo's transparent trial showcases the [Communist party's] persistent crackdown on corruption," said an article on Xinhua, China's official newswire. "All citizens are equal before the law." | "No doubt, Bo's transparent trial showcases the [Communist party's] persistent crackdown on corruption," said an article on Xinhua, China's official newswire. "All citizens are equal before the law." |
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