The biggest political trial in China in decades appears to be much more open than previous proceedings, even if it is still stage-managed.  The trial of former politburo member Bo Xilai went into a second day.

Bo’s son from his first marriage Li Wangzhi was allowed inside the courtroom to observe the first day, and later released a statement saying, “I thank the party central authorities and the court for giving the defendant greater rights to a defense and freedom than he had expected, allowing my father to speak his true mind.”

And speak his mind he did.  Bo denied the state’s claims that he took millions of dollars in bribes, and lavished his family with cars and real estate.  Some of that bling allegedly included a villa on the French Riviera, which he said he knew nothing about.

“This is the most open trial of its kind, certainly the most open among the ones we have seen recently,” said Peking University Law Professor He Weifang.

“He seems to be speaking his mind, judging from his speech and the words he used.”

But over all, Professor He added, “the whole court is controlled by Beijing.”

Human Rights Watch Asia researcher Nicholas Bequelin tweeted, “Even though Bo rejects the accusations against him, he is still playing ball in what is, in essence, a scripted piece of political theater.”

Analysts say some testimony seems to have disappeared from the court transcript, and negative comments have been purged from the Jinan Court’s Internet Blog.  Other observers say a guilty verdict and lengthy prison term are pretty much pre-ordained.