Seven people went on trial in connection with the killing of a reporter at the Intermediate People's Court of Linfen city in north China's Shanxi Province on Sunday.

Hou Zhenrun and five others were charged with intentionally causing physical hurt to others. The seventh suspect, Zheng Gui, is accused of harboring the suspects.

Lan Chengzhang, a reporter with the Beijing-based China Trade News, died on January 11, a day after being beaten by the suspects. Lan was investigating an illegal coal mine in Datong, a major coal mining city in Shanxi, police said previously.

Lan's mother, wife and daughter are demanding 380,000 yuan (US$49,000) in compensation.

The case has been complicated by allegations that Lan and his colleague Cheng Hanwen were not officially accredited journalists, and that they were trying to extort money from mine owner Hou Zhenrun in exchange for not writing articles about the mine.

Hou alleged organized the gang who attacked Lan and Cheng.

Lan died of head injuries sustained in the attack while Cheng survived but suffered a broken arm and other injuries.

The court was yet to announce a judgment.

(Xinhua News Agency May 1, 2007)