China bloggers fined for defamation: report

BEIJING (AFP) – Two Chinese bloggers were ordered to pay about 290,000 yuan (42,478 dollars) in compensation to the widow of film director Xie Jin for claiming he died in the arms of a prostitute, a report said Saturday.

The claim by the bloggers was picked up by numerous Chinese internet sites after Xie's death in October 2008 at the age of 84, Beijing News said.

A Shanghai court on Friday ordered the two men to pay the compensation to Xie's widow Xu Dawen and also ordered them to write a letter of apology to be posted on the internet.

"This trial is unfair, I will not apologise, I will not pay the money and I will appeal," one of the bloggers, Song Zude, told the newspaper.

Song has in the past said he had proof that Xie lived a dissolute life, but has not produced the evidence.

Xie directed his first film, "Woman Basketball Player No. 5" in 1957. He was also known for "The Red Detachment of Women", a Maoist-era political melodrama.

source:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091226/tc_afp/chinacinemainternettrial_20091226083302