Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jul 17/98) - Wing Lee says he asked the ages of all the girls with whom he is charged with having sex, but only to make sure they were old enough to enter his poker room, not his bedroom.

During cross-examination by Crown prosecutor Mark Scrivens, Lee said Thursday during his NWT Supreme Court trial that he did not know what the law was regarding sex with minors.

"You thought if somebody was willing to be a prostitute, it didn't matter how old they were, is that right?" Scrivens asked.

"I thought if they were prostitutes, it was no problem. But if they were virgins, that would be a problem," responded Lee, speaking through a Cantonese translator.

Lee admitted his main concern in checking ages was to make sure they were old enough to be in the poker room while card games were being played.

All questions Lee faced yesterday were translated. Lee gave his answers in Cantonese and the translator relayed them back to the court.

During cross-examination of Lee's defence, Scrivens drew heavily on letters Lee had written to the Crown and others during and after his preliminary hearing.

The cross-examination came after Lee's legal consultant (Lee is technically representing himself), Andrew Mahar, spent 90 minutes asking Lee about the details of his relationships and sexual encounters with girls involved in the 23 sex and procurement charges he is facing.

Responding to Mahar's questions, Lee said he asked the ages of each of the young girls he is charged with having sex with, before he had sex with them, and that each of them lied about their ages.

The cross-examination of Lee was expected to wrap up yesterday and closing arguments to be made today. Depending on how quickly the process goes, a verdict could be rendered as early as this afternoon. If it is not, provision has been made to reconvene the court Saturday.

On Wednesday, after the Crown wrapped up his case, Mahar asked that seven of the 24 sex-related charges Lee was facing be dropped because no evidence had been given to support them.

But Justice John Vertes threw out only one of the charges of attempting to obtaining sex from a minor.

"The test here is not to prove beyond a reasonable doubt," noted Vertes. "The test is whether or not any evidence at all has been presented (to support the charge)."

As he has several times throughout the trial, on Wednesday the judge urged Lee to think long and hard about taking the stand, noting he would leave himself open to cross-examination by Scrivens.

"For many of these charges, the Crown's case may not be as strong as people thought at the beginning of the trial," noted Vertes.

"If you get into the witness box and start incriminating yourself, I have to take into consideration what you say. I want you to think very carefully about that."

Throughout the trial, Lee has found it difficult to resist protesting his innocence. Just before Vertes adjourned to consider the request that the seven charges be dropped, Lee insisted on addressing the judge.

Lee said all charges should be dropped, on the basis he had not had a chance to state his case. After being assured by the judge he would have an opportunity, Lee said, "The money I pay these girls was not for sex. I play poker and when I win I give these girls money, like cheerleaders. They make me feel like hero...."

"Don't tell me this now, Mr. Lee," interrupted a noticeably frustrated Vertes. "Don't tell me this now."