Bo Xilai trial transcripts censored, sources say
Testimony that might show disgraced former Politburo member in a more sympathetic light omitted from public court reports, say sources
Sensitive testimony that might humanise Bo Xilai or cast Beijing in a bad light has been scrubbed from the public transcripts of the former Politburo member's corruption trial, according to people with direct knowledge of the proceedings.
Since the politically charged trial began on Thursday, the Jinan Intermediate People's Court has provided detailed transcripts of testimony on its official microblog.
While these have provided juicy details to captivate the millions watching around the world, some testimony has been left out of the public record, according to three people who have either attended the trial or been briefed on proceedings.
Censored testimony included Bo's account of the five letters he wrote to the Communist Party's central leadership, pleading for his wife's pardon in the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood. Also omitted were his descriptions of the less-than-subtle tactics by investigators from the party's anti-graft watchdog, who told him of the corruption trials of two officials - one who confessed and lived and the other who fought and was executed.
The transcripts also left out some of Bo's more sympathetic remarks about his wife, Gu Kailai , who was convicted of murder last year and has testified against him.
Similarly, the transcripts took some of Bo's more negative remarks about Gu out of context, including his description of her as "insane", according to a source briefed on the testimony.
