Ng Tells of Helping Bury 2 Bodies

Accused serial killer Charles Ng on Thursday acknowledged that he helped bury two bodies and participated in sadomasochistic games with victims but continued to emphatically deny that he took part in a killing rampage in Northern California 14 years ago.

Despite tough questioning by prosecutors who attempted to discredit his account, Ng continued to insist that his friend, Leonard Lake, actually committed the 12 murders at a secluded cabin property in Calaveras County. Lake killed himself shortly after being arrested in 1985.

Under cross-examination from prosecutors, Ng repeatedly said he could not remember key aspects of the case. Sharlene Honnaka, a state deputy attorney general, levied a barrage of questions regarding his knowledge of a bunker that Lake built on the cabin property.

Authorities say that the bunker was used as a cell for “sex slaves.” But Ng testified that he assumed it was an emergency shelter and tool shed in line with Lake’s survivalist lifestyle. He said he did not remember whether Lake told him what the structure was for.

Prosecutors will continue their cross-examination Monday.

Some relatives of the victims expressed doubts about Ng’s version of events.

“He can remember what type of toothbrush Lake left in his apartment in 1982, but he can’t remember so many other things,” said Sharon Sellito, whose brother was allegedly killed by Ng.

Ng’s testimony came unexpectedly in the middle of closing arguments in what is one of California’s longest-running and most expensive murder cases. On Wednesday, Ng demanded that Orange County Superior Court Judge John J. Ryan allow him to testify. Ryan agreed to let the defendant take the stand and decided that prosecutors could present further closing statements after the testimony concludes.

The case was moved here in 1994 because of pretrial publicity in Northern California.