Nov 20, 2008 - 02:27 PM

By Jeff Mitchell

WHITBY -- The cross-examination of a key witness in the trial of two high-ranking bikers began Thursday with a full-out assault on the police agent's credibility.

Defence lawyer Brian Grys walked witness Steven Gault through a lengthy criminal record, highlights of which included toting a shotgun during a rip-off of a friend's marijuana grow operation and a career of fleecing seniors for overpriced home repairs.

"You have gone through your life getting by on acts of dishonesty and violence and deceit, haven't you?" Mr. Grys asked Mr. Gault, as jurors looked on.

Mr. Gault, a police agent who infiltrated the Hells Angels to gather information on drug dealing among bikers, is a key witness in the trial of Mark Stephenson and Cobourg-area resident Remond Akleh, who have pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit murder and counselling to commit murder. Mr. Stephenson, of Sunderland, is president of the Oshawa chapter of the Hells Angels; Mr. Akleh is a member of the Angels' elite Nomads wing.

Mr. Gault has testified he was enlisted to be the trigger man in a plot to assassinate Frank Lenti, a rival biker with ties to the Angels' blood enemies, the Bandidos.

Credibility is a pivotal issue for both the Crown and defence; the prosecution must convince jurors Mr. Gault is being truthful in his testimony, while lawyers for the defendants will attempt to raise doubts in jurors' minds.

Mr. Grys applied himself to that task with vigour Thursday, portraying Mr. Gault as a violent and deceitful man who has racked up convictions for offences like home reno scams targeting seniors, uttering threats to a Durham cop and biting a man's ear off in a bar fight.

He also questioned Mr. Gault about a ripoff of a marijuana grow-op run by an acquaintance -- Mr. Gault testified he held a shotgun while his accomplice bashed a guard dog with a shovel during the break-in -- and his long career of providing information to police on others, including his ex-wife's brother.

Mr. Grys also hammered away at what he said were inconsistencies between evidence given by Mr. Gault at this trial and a preliminary hearing more than a year ago.

Mr. Grys's typically low-key presentation was abandoned as the confrontation with the witness played out.

At one point he thundered: "What you're doing now is you're making it up as you go along because you've been caught out in a lie under oath."

Mr. Gault replied that he hadn't understood the questions posed him at the earlier hearing.

The trial, presided over by Superior Court Justice Bruce Glass in Whitby, continues.