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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Gu Kailai will get fair trial, says China | Gu Kailai will get fair trial, says China |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Gu Kailai will receive a fair trial for the murder of the Briton Neil Heywood, a Chinese state newspaper has said, claiming the case would strengthen people's confidence in the country's legal system. | Gu Kailai will receive a fair trial for the murder of the Briton Neil Heywood, a Chinese state newspaper has said, claiming the case would strengthen people's confidence in the country's legal system. |
| Authorities announced late on Thursday that Gu, the wife of the ousted politician Bo Xilai, and Zhang Xiaojun, a family employee, had been charged with "intentional homicide". | Authorities announced late on Thursday that Gu, the wife of the ousted politician Bo Xilai, and Zhang Xiaojun, a family employee, had been charged with "intentional homicide". |
| The case is highly sensitive not only because of Bo's seniority but because he had previously been tipped as a possible addition to the Communist party's top political body in this autumn's once-a-decade power transition. Sympathisers have suggested he and his family have been brought down by political enemies. | The case is highly sensitive not only because of Bo's seniority but because he had previously been tipped as a possible addition to the Communist party's top political body in this autumn's once-a-decade power transition. Sympathisers have suggested he and his family have been brought down by political enemies. |
| The state news agency Xinhua said in April that Bo, formerly party secretary of Chongqing, was under investigation by party authorities for serious violations of discipline. There has been no further comment on his case. | The state news agency Xinhua said in April that Bo, formerly party secretary of Chongqing, was under investigation by party authorities for serious violations of discipline. There has been no further comment on his case. |
| "As Gu Kailai is the wife of Bo Xilai, a dismissed member of the political bureau, the case has drawn widespread attention," acknowledged the editorial in the Global Times, which was carried on numerous other Chinese news sites. | "As Gu Kailai is the wife of Bo Xilai, a dismissed member of the political bureau, the case has drawn widespread attention," acknowledged the editorial in the Global Times, which was carried on numerous other Chinese news sites. |
| "A trial held according to law will strengthen the Chinese people's confidence in the country's legal system." | "A trial held according to law will strengthen the Chinese people's confidence in the country's legal system." |
| It acknowledged the case was a landmark and the opinions surrounding it were "quite complicated", with speculation swirling about the trial. | It acknowledged the case was a landmark and the opinions surrounding it were "quite complicated", with speculation swirling about the trial. |
| The Communist party controls China's courts. | The Communist party controls China's courts. |
| But the Global Times insisted: "This is a criminal case, and society should see it as one … Every citizen is an ordinary person when sitting in the defendant's seat." | But the Global Times insisted: "This is a criminal case, and society should see it as one … Every citizen is an ordinary person when sitting in the defendant's seat." |
| It said the case had "sent a message to society that nobody, regardless of his or her status and power, can be exempt from punishment if he or she behaves unscrupulously, especially if he harms another person's life". | It said the case had "sent a message to society that nobody, regardless of his or her status and power, can be exempt from punishment if he or she behaves unscrupulously, especially if he harms another person's life". |
| The editorial urged legal officials to disclose enough information to satisfy public demand, adding: "The more details are revealed, the more it will help build public confidence in China's legal framework." | The editorial urged legal officials to disclose enough information to satisfy public demand, adding: "The more details are revealed, the more it will help build public confidence in China's legal framework." |
| But most experts believe only limited information about Gu's trial – which is expected to take place within weeks – is likely to be released. | But most experts believe only limited information about Gu's trial – which is expected to take place within weeks – is likely to be released. |
| It is unusual for Chinese trials to end in acquittals – and would be much more so in a highly sensitive case such as this one. | It is unusual for Chinese trials to end in acquittals – and would be much more so in a highly sensitive case such as this one. |
| "The fact she has been charged means she will be found guilty," said Prof Steve Tsang, an expert on elite politics at Nottingham University. | "The fact she has been charged means she will be found guilty," said Prof Steve Tsang, an expert on elite politics at Nottingham University. |
| "It is blatantly as political a case as it could possibly be." | "It is blatantly as political a case as it could possibly be." |
| He cited the fact that the case was due to take place in Anhui province, despite the fact that Heywood died in Chongqing and Gu appeared to be living in Beijing and Chongqing. | He cited the fact that the case was due to take place in Anhui province, despite the fact that Heywood died in Chongqing and Gu appeared to be living in Beijing and Chongqing. |
| "There is a long tradition of trying cases involving high-level officials outside their power base … because of fears they can use their local influence to influence the result," Prof Donald Clarke wrote on his blog about Chinese law. | "There is a long tradition of trying cases involving high-level officials outside their power base … because of fears they can use their local influence to influence the result," Prof Donald Clarke wrote on his blog about Chinese law. |
| "Anyone who knows anything about China will, of course, already suspect that this trial cannot possibly take place in the absence of substantial political influences. But I think it's important to point out this particular example of that process at work … There was an extra-legal political decision made that this is how the matter would be handled, and that decision was then transmitted to all relevant actors in the legal system." | "Anyone who knows anything about China will, of course, already suspect that this trial cannot possibly take place in the absence of substantial political influences. But I think it's important to point out this particular example of that process at work … There was an extra-legal political decision made that this is how the matter would be handled, and that decision was then transmitted to all relevant actors in the legal system." |
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