Michael Le testifying at Surrey Six murder trial

A former gang leader who has already pleaded guilty to his role in the so-called Surrey Six slayings has testified he made upwards of $125,000 a month selling cocaine when he entered the drug trade.

Quang Vinh Thang Le, who is also know as Michael Le, is in B.C. Supreme Court testifying against his former gang brethren Matthew Johnston and Cody Haevischer.

Le pleaded guilty last November to conspiracy to commit murder and was sentenced to 12 years in prison, which was reduced to three years and one month after credit for time served.

With the publication ban imposed at his sentencing now lifted, Le is testifying against Johnston and Haevischer, and will take the stand in the trial of accused gang leader Jamie Bacon, whose trial is still to come.

Le told the court how he launched the Red Scorpions gang, and how he met Haevischer and then allied himself with Bacon and his brothers.

Later today he's expected to expand on an agreed statement of facts, released at his trial, that said the 2007 killing began as an execution of a rival drug trafficker named Corey Lal.

Another five victims also found in the Surrey high-rise were also killed to eliminate potential witnesses, the court was told.

Three of the victims, Ryan Bartolomeo,19, Michael Lal, 26, and Edward Narong, 22, were described by police as having criminal lifestyles

But two of the victims, fireplace repairman Ed Schellenberg, 55, and building resident Chris Mohan, 22, were described by police as innocent bystanders.