The former lead singer of the rock band Lostprophets was sentenced Wednesday to 29 years in jail, with a British judge saying that Ian Watkins had “plumbed new depths of depravity” in committing a string of sexual offenses against very young children. Watkins, 36, pleaded guilty last month to 13 charges, including trying to rape a baby, sexually touching a 1-year-old, encouraging a fan to abuse her child and making child pornography. Judge John Royce called Watkins a manipulative and dangerous sexual predator who had abused his fame to help satisfy his “insatiable lust.” Watkins - who was visibly shaking during sentencing - must serve at least two thirds of his 29-year term, then spend six more years on strict probation. Lostprophets - which formed in 1997 and had a chart-topping album in 2006 with Liberation Transmission - announced that it was disbanding after Watkins’ arrest. Police are investigating whether Watkins had other victims elsewhere in the world, given his extensive touring schedule. Two female accomplices, described by prosecutors as “active participants in the most shocking abuse of their own children,” were jailed for 15 years and 16 years, respectively.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon actress Zhang Ziyi has reached an undisclosed settlement with a U.S.-based dissident news website that she sued for libel after it published reports that she was paid to have sex with Chinese government officials. Boxun News retracted its “negative and untrue” reports that began in May 2012 in an apology displayed on its English-language site Wednesday. “These false reports about Zhang Ziyi should never have been published. As a result, Boxun News now renders its unreserved apology to Zhang Ziyi, has removed the entire series of articles about Zhang Ziyi from the Boxun News website, and issues this formal retraction,” said Boxun, whose reports regularly allege human-rights violations and political scandals, and which is blocked in China. Zhang, 34, filed the lawsuit in a Los Angeles court against China Free Press Inc. - a North Carolina nonprofit corporation devoted to promoting free speech and democracy in China - doing business as Boxun News, and Weican Null Meng, a U.S. citizen and founder of China Free Press. Zhang claimed damage to her reputation and business interests, according to court documents. After catapulting to stardom with the Oscar-nominated Crouching Tiger, Zhang’s subsequent English credits include Rush Hour 2, Memoirs of a Geisha and Horsemen.
Front Section, Pages 2 on 12/19/2013