A bikie has been revealed as the alleged mastermind behind the sniper murder of Rebels boss Nick Martin at Kwinana Motorplex in Western Australia last December.
David James Pye is accused of ordering a $300,000 hit on Mr Martin.
Detectives from Taskforce Ravello – set up to investigate Mr Martin’s murder – questioned Mr Pye in March, after a 35-year-old soldier, who has since admitted to the killing, was charged.
But Mr Pye was only charged on Monday.
David James Pye has been charged over the sniper murder of Rebels bikie boss Nick Martin at Kwinana Motorplex in Western Australia last December
David James Pye (right) leaves the Perth District Court with Rebels president Nick Martin (left) in Perth on Friday, October 18, 2013. Mr Pye has now been charged with ordering the killing of Mr Martin
He is facing one count of murder, two counts of inciting another to commit murder, one count of intent to endanger the life, health or safety of any person and two counts of dealing with property used in connection with an offence.
$300,000 BIKIE HIT
The $300,000 fee allegedly agreed for the killing of Perth bikie boss Nick Martin is thought to be one of the biggest murder contracts ever offered in Australia.
WA Police Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch told reporters that detectives attached to Operation Ravello also charged a second man in relation to the murder of Mr Martin at Perth Motorplex last December.
‘The charges relate to the [alleged] payment of that murder,’ he said. ‘And also [an alleged] payment for the murder of another outlaw motorcycle gang member that was not carried out.’
Mr Blanch said payments made during Melbourne’s ‘underbelly’ gangland wars were much lower.
‘We’ve seen matters over east, certainly during the underbelly period, where amounts were far lower than that, during their 36 murder spree of gangland figures,’ he said.
‘And, you know, having $300,000 plus being [allegedly] paid for a murder – we’ll be looking into the source of those funds as well.’
During a hearing in Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday, state prosecutor Nick John, acting on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, brought forward an application seeking to suppress Mr Pye’s identity for his safety, The West Australian reported.
However, Chief Magistrate Steven Heath reportedly asked if there was ‘any point’ in suppressing his name.
‘The media have already done the investigative work and are to identify Mr Pye, so what do I achieve now [by suppressing his name],’ he said.
‘Do I tell everyone to forget about the front page and media reports because we are now going to make it suppressed?’
Mr Pye, who is incarcerated, appeared in court via video link wearing an orange jumpsuit with his hands shackled in cuffs and chains.
He did not speak as his lawyer, Paul Holmes, argued for his name to be suppressed.
Mr Holmes said the right to a fair trial was another reason to suppress his identity, but Mr Heath did not grant the suppression order.
‘It has also been suggested it would be appropriate to suppress to ensure a fair trial,’ he said.
‘There are many matters that receive attention in the media and in my view juries which are properly instructed are able to address the element of offences and place any media reporting to one side.
‘The time to trial in any event will be quite long,’ he added.
But Mr Heath did allow the suppression on the name of a woman Pye is also alleged to have ordered a hit on.
Nick Martin (pictured) was shot in the back at the Perth Motorplex on December 12 in front of horrified families who were trying to watch the nitro cars high-octane drag racing
Mr Martin, 51, was shot dead at Kwinana Motorplex in Perth on December 12, 2020 in a gruesome and public execution.
Mr Pye is reportedly codenamed ‘The Baker’ and allegedly the man who sought out the former soldier who fired the fatal shot.
A former mercenary sharpshooter admitted to gunning down Mr Martin at a crowded drag racing event from 300m away.
The 35-year-old man, whose name is suppressed, pleaded guilty in Perth Magistrates Court to the assassination.
The former bikie boss, 51, was watching drag races at Kwinana Motorplex with his family when he was shot through the torso and bled to death.
The assassin also pleaded guilty to injuring Ricky Chapman, the boyfriend of Mr Martin’s stepdaughter, who was wounded by bullet fragments.
The man was part of soldier of fortune outfit Shadows of Hope, which calls itself ‘the world’s most dangerous and fearless charity’.
The ex-trooper is yet to enter a plea on other charges including possessing a silencer, inadequately storing firearms, and drug possession.
The chaos at the racetrack on December 12 in Perth after Nick Martin was executed is pictured
Nick Martin (pictured) died in the arms of his wife Amanda as she tried to give him CPR. His last words were: ‘babe, I’ve been shot’
Rebels bikie Nick Martin was ridden in to Pinnaroo Cemetery in a coffin covered in pictures of $100 bills (pictured) at his extravagant bikie funeral on December 23
One of the possible shooter locations previously identified at the Perth Motorplex. A long shot would indicate a sniper, experts say
The 35-year-old appeared via video link in his prison greens and in handcuffs and only spoke to confirm his name and to plead guilty.
Mr Martin was assassinated in front of hundreds of onlookers including his wife Amanda and stepdaughter.
After being hit, he told his wife ‘babe, I’ve been shot’, as she tried to give him CPR while he died in her arms.
Police spent months on the investigation with 100 officers on the job, while the WA Government offered a $1 million reward to anyone who had information on the shooter.
A $1 million reward was offered for information leading to the arrest of the shooter who killed Nick Martin, 51, (pictured with wife Amanda)
His death also sparked a crackdown on bikies by police who conducted raids and charged more than 100 people.
Mr Martin’s funeral was held on December 23 with 200 police officers watching the proceedings.
A police sniper also watched on from a helicopter as the patched gang members headed south to say their final farewells.
Mr Martin’s coffin was covered in pictures of $100 bills and Bob Dylan’s All Along the Watchtower played as bikies took turns to walk up and touch it as it was brought in under a marquee for the service.
Last year, Shadows of Hope shared a post online paying tribute to the soldier for his service in Iraq, describing him as their ‘resident thrill-seeker and heartbreaker’.
‘When the way to save lives is illegal or cast in the shadow of bureaucracy, it takes unorthodox attributes and attitudes to get the job done,’ the group wrote.
Mr Pye is expected to appear in Stirling Gardens Magistrates in Perth next month.
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