Legal defendant’s false statement about femme fatale? (8)

I believe the answer is:

libellee

'legal defendant's' is the definition.
(someone who has been libelled)

'false statement about femme fatale?' is the wordplay.
'false statement' becomes 'lie' (lie is a kind of false statement).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'femme fatale?' becomes 'belle' (both can mean a beautiful woman).
'lie' going around 'belle' is 'LIBELLEE'.

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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