Bo Xilai chose us himself: defense attorneys

JINAN - Bo Xilai's defense attorneys said on Monday that they were chosen by Bo himself, as his trial for bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power concluded Monday at the Jinan Intermediate People's Court.

Li Guifang and Wang Zhaofeng of the Beijing-based DeHeng Law Offices told Xinhua that, as far as they know, Bo's family hired several lawyers during the investigation stage of the case and, ultimately, Bo chose the two of them as his defense attorneys.

During the review process, prosecution and court sessions, Bo directly confirmed Li and Wang as his lawyers.

After the trial, Li Guifang told Xinhua that they had read all the case files, copied relevant evidence and fully exchanged views on defense strategies with Bo during multiple visits.

"In court, we defended Bo Xilai in accordance with facts and the law, and safeguarded the defendant's litigation rights and other lawful rights and interests in accordance with the law," Li said.

"During the trial, our defense centered on the charges against the defendant raised by prosecutors and related litigation," he said.

He added that the defense attorneys had fully expressed their opinions on the basis of facts and in accordance with the law, especially where facts were unclear and evidence insufficient.

The court trial had proceeded in line with the principle of equality between prosecution and defense, Li said.

"The defendant's right to defend himself, make statements and the defending lawyers' right to question, examine and debate have all been honored and protected," he said.

Li said for lawyers, defending a high-ranking official and an ordinary citizen is essentially the same process.

"In both cases they need to defend the defendant's lawful rights and interests on factual and legal basis so as to ensure the law is implemented rightly and safeguard social fairness and justice," he said.

Bo, 64, is former secretary of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and a former member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau.