Lu to appeal libel verdict

Lawyers for Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) yesterday said they would appeal a court decision exonerating The Journalist president Wang Chien-chuang (王健壯), editor-in-chief Yang Chao (楊照), executive editor Tao Ling-yu (陶令瑜), and reporters Wu Yan-ling (吳燕玲) and Yang Shu-mei (楊舒媚) for libel. On April 10, the Taipei District Court ruled that Yang was guilty of lying about Lu spreading rumors that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) was having an affair with his then-interpreter Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴). The court, however, found all the defendants not guilty based on the freedom of the press.