Nov 14, 2008 - 01:24 PM

By Jeff Mitchell

WHITBY -- Fears of an incursion into Hells Angels' territory led to a plot to kill an underworld rival, a witness has testified at the trial of two high-ranking Hells Angels.

Steven Gault, a police agent who infiltrated the Oshawa Hells Angels, told jurors rival biker Frank Lenti's courtship with the Bandidos -- sworn enemies of the Angels -- made him a marked man.

Mr. Gault is the Crown's key witness in the trial of Mark Stephenson and Remond Akleh. Mr. Stephenson, president of the Oshawa Hells Angels chapter, and Mr. Akleh, a member of the elite Nomads, have pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit murder and counselling to commit murder.

The Crown alleges the men on trial conspired among themselves and with Mr. Gault to murder Mr. Lenti, a plot Mr. Gault testified was hatched in June of 2006 when the matter of Mr. Lenti and his dalliance with the Bandidos was raised at a national meeting of the Hells Angels in Windsor.

Mr. Gault -- who at that time was a police agent targeting drug dealers within the biker gang -- said he was approached by Mr. Akleh and Mr. Stephenson at the Windsor meeting, and was recruited to be the trigger man in the plot against Mr. Lenti.

"Ray Akleh informed myself and Mark Stephenson it was brought up in the officers' meeting that there had been a discussion about Frank Lenti . . . they were having problems with him and he was starting to get guys together," Mr. Gault said. "There was talk of bringing him along as a (Hells Angels) prospect or getting rid of him -- killing him."

Convinced Mr. Lenti wouldn't join the Hells Angels, the conclusion was that he would have to be assassinated, Mr. Gault testified.

"Mark (Stephenson) said we should kill him and dump him on the highway in his (Bandidos) colours," he said.

In subsequent testimony Mr. Gault said that in July 2006 he met with Mr. Stephenson at his home near Sunderland, where it was confirmed the hit was a go.

"Mark brought up that Lenti had survived a car bomb and being shot," he said. "I told him a bullet in the heart would do the trick and he laughed and nodded."

"I understood I was supposed to kill Frank Lenti."

He said Mr. Stephenson assured him no one else in the club would stand in the way of the plot -- including their alleged co-conspirator.

"I asked what would happen if Ray Akleh should say something about it," Mr. Gault said. "(Mr. Stephenson) held up his hand in a gun sign and mouthed the words 'Kill him, too.' "

Mr. Gault testified he was wearing a body pack recording device supplied by police during the meeting.

Under questioning by assistant Crown attorney Mitchell Flagg, Mr. Gault said he signed on with police to gather information on drug dealing among the Angels, but during the course of an 18-month project stumbled onto much more. His information led police to lay charges in one other murder conspiracy and a murder, he said.

Likewise, the plot involving Mr. Akleh and Mr. Stephenson was serendipitous, he said.

"The conspiracy to commit murder -- that just fell in my lap in the middle of it," he said.