Bo Xilai

Former top politician Bo Xilai was a rising star in China's leadership circles when his career was stopped short last year by a murder scandal. Bo's wife, Gu Kailai, was convicted of poisoning a British businessman, Neil Heywood, who had been a family friend.

Bo, who was Communist Party chief of the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing, mounted an unexpectedly feisty defence during his trial, denouncing testimony against him by his wife as the ravings of a mad woman.

He repeatedly said he was not guilty of any of the charges, though he admitted making some bad decisions and shaming his country by his handling of former Chongqing police chief, Wang Lijun, who first told Bo that Gu had probably murdered Heywood.

Wang fled to the U.S. consulate in the nearby city of Chengdu in February last year after confronting Bo with evidence that Gu was involved in the murder. Wang was also jailed last year for covering up the crime.

Read the latest on the trial here

A Chinese court will announce its verdict on former top politician Bo Xilai on Sunday following his 5-day trial last month on charges of corruption and abuse of power. He could be handed a long jail term by the Communist Party-controlled court.

The nature of the charges could even see Bo, 64, given the death penalty, but many observers say that is unlikely as the party will not want to make a martyr of a man whose left-leaning social welfare policies won much popular support.

At the close of Bo's dramatic trial last month, prosecutors demanded a heavy sentence, saying his "whimsical" challenge to charges of bribery, graft and abuse of power flew in the face of the evidence. State media, which speaks for the party, has all but condemned him.

The verdict is expected to be announced by the court in the eastern city of Jinan, where Bo was tried, at 10 a.m. Beijing time (0200 GMT).

Read the latest on the trial here

Why is the verdict in the trial of disgraced Chinese Communist Party leader Bo Xilai being announced on a Sunday? Next Sunday is a working day in China because from tomorrow until Saturday the Chinese have a national holiday; the mid-Autumn Festival.

Announcing the verdict on Sunday also fits in neatly before the first week of October when China then has the 'Golden Week' holiday; marking the date of the anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

So Bo's political rivals, those who wanted to see his downfall, will have an extra reason to celebrate.

Read the latest on the trial here

The trial of ousted former senior Chinese politician Bo Xilai ended today, with the verdict due at an unspecified later date, state news agency Xinhua said.

Bo's trial on charges of corruption, accepting bribes and abuse of power started on Thursday and lasted through the weekend.

Chinese prosecutors demanded a heavy sentence for ousted senior politician Bo Xilai on the fifth day of his landmark trial, saying his "whimsical" challenge to bribery, graft and abuse of power charges flew in the face of the evidence.

Summing up the evidence on the fifth day of the trial, the state's prosecutor said Bo should not be shown leniency as he had recanted admissions of guilt provided ahead of the trial.

"The severeness of the accused's crimes, and that he refused to admit guilt, don't match the circumstances of leniency, and (he) must be severely punished in accordance with the law," the court cited the prosecutor as saying.

Ousted senior Chinese politician Bo Xilai angrily ripped into his former police chief on the fourth day of his trial, calling him a "vile character" who faked testimony accusing Bo of covering up a murder committed by his wife.

Bo was a rising star in China's leadership circles when his career was stopped short last year by a murder scandal which saw his wife Gu Kailai convicted of poisoning a British businessman.

He is now on trial charged with corruption, taking bribes and abuse of power, the last of which is especially sensitive as it involves allegations Bo challenged the authority of the ruling Communist Party.

Read: Bo Xilai claims his wife is 'mad'

At the Bo Xilai trial there are claims that Neil Heywood angrily demanded £1.4 million compensation when a property deal went sour.

There have been claims about the British businessman throughout the trial but no one is in court defending Mr Heywood - the real victim.

Bo also hit back at his wife's evidence, accusing her of being "mad" and under pressure.

He said: "She has changed. She is mad and always tells lies".

The fallen Chinese politician Bo Xilai has been described as "arrogant" and "scheming" in state media reports today after he came out fighting at his corruption trial yesterday.

The Communist party-run Guangming Daily said Bo's attitude towards witnesses is "swollen with arrogance", calling him "scheming, domineering and duplicitous".

In a commentary on the People's Daily website, Bo's feisty defence is described as "futile quibbling".

"The evidence in irrefutable," the newspaper writes. "Of course Bo Xilai has the right to defend himself ... but if he lacks sincerity, then his excuses will be ridiculed."

Read: Bo Xilai sticks to his own script in corruption trial

The mouthpiece of China's leaders, the People's Daily, says Bo Xilai is an "actor" and "masterful liar" but his performance "won't help him escape punishment".