Ousted Chinese politician Bo Xilai's prospects of an eventual comeback evaporated Sunday after he was sentenced to life in prison and permanently deprived of all political rights, but aspects of his legacy may live on, experts said.
The charismatic former Politburo member surprised many observers by mounting a stout defense against charges of corruption, embezzlement and abuse of power during last month's five-day trial, possibly in the hope that he might one day be politically rehabilitated, as his father, a veteran Communist Party leader, had been.
But the gamble did not pay off, analysts said, and provoked a stronger sentence than many had anticipated. Bo was found guilty on all three counts and in addition to his imprisonment, all of his personal assets are to be confiscated.