Man loses appeal for murder of sex worker, firearms offence in B.C. brothel

VANCOUVER – A convicted murderer whose botched robbery of a Burnaby, B.C., brothel led to the death of a sex worker has lost his appeal in the province’s highest court.

Peter Quon San Wong was convicted in February 2012 of the first-degree murder of Ping Li and for discharging a firearm at her pimp Xing Li inside the 25th floor condominium.

A cellphone left by the killer in the apartment, listing Wong as the user and registered in his father’s name was one piece of evidence seized by police.

Wong was just shy of his 18th birthday at the time of the offence, but he was sentenced as an adult to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years after an application by the Crown.

His counsel appealed, arguing the judge should have warned the jury about the credibility of the Li’s evidence and in admitting evidence from Wong’s sister.

The B.C. Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, saying no warning to the jury about Li’s credibility was necessary and the admission of his sister’s evidence did not impair the verdict.