The man accused of orchestrating the murder of a Perth bikie boss at a suburban speedway did so because of tensions arising from his defection to a rival gang, a court has heard.
Former Comancheros bikie member David Pye, 43, is on trial in the WA Supreme Court on six charges, including murder.
It is alleged he hired the assassin, who is serving a 20-year jail sentence for murdering former Rebels president Nick Martin and who cannot be named for legal reasons, offering him $150,000 for the hit.
David James Pye is on trial over the sniper-style assassination of former bikie boss Nick Martin. (AAP Image: Angie Raphael)
The 51-year-old had been watching drag races with his family and 2,000 other people at the Kwinana Motorplex in December 2020 when he was struck by the sniper’s bullet. Former Bandidos member Ricky Chapman and a five-year-old boy were also injured.
The former soldier-turned sniper took the stand as the prosecution’s key witness on Thursday, telling the court Mr Pye wanted Mr Martin killed over a dispute about gang recruitment.
He said Mr Pye’s relationship with Mr Martin had soured after Mr Pye defected to the Comancheros with other bikies.
David Pye (bottom left) watches as the assassin testifies against him from a glass witness box (top right) at his WA Supreme Court trial. (ABC News: Ruth Twardy)
Yesterday, prosecutor Justin Whalley told the court the case would rely on the shooter’s evidence being accepted and believed by Justice Joseph McGrath, who is presiding over the case without a jury.
Myanmar rebel plan
The charges against Mr Pye include an alleged plan to have Comanchero bikie Raymond Cilli killed, but the hit never eventuated.
The sniper told the court the proposal was for members of the Karen National Liberation Army in Myanmar to murder Mr Cilli, who was living in Thailand at the time.
David James Pye murder trial begins
“I had soldiers across the border of Thailand who would’ve undertaken the hit and reconnaissance,” he said.
He said Mr Pye wanted Mr Cilli killed with an assault rifle outside a pub, but he told the court it’s “not the way I do things”.
He claimed Pye had initially asked him to kill an ex-girlfriend in witness protection for $380,000, but he told Mr Pye to “f*** off'”.
“You clearly don’t know who I am if you’re asking me to do this shit,” he said he told Mr Pye.
The court heard he had worked for the Shadows Of Hope group in northern Iraq and Syria, which describes itself as “the world’s most fearless charity” and provides security advice and medical assistance for doctors who volunteer in war zones.
Yesterday the court heard the sniper told Mr Pye he did not kill “innocent women”.
He told the court Mr Martin had planned to kill Mr Pye, saying: “He told me Nick Martin had ordered a hit on him and he wanted to put a hit on Nick Martin”.
‘It can be done’
The sniper agreed to “build a book on Nick Martin” and began to research his movements, including visiting his home, tailing him and using a drone for surveillance as he “looked for patterns”.
During his surveillance operation, he “zeroed in” on Kwinana Motorplex and, after visiting the site, told Mr Pye, “it can be done”.
“I accepted the contract that day,” he said.
After he fatally shot Mr Martin, Mr Pye allegedly sent him coffin and clapping emojis through an encrypted app.
David James Pye pictured in 2013. (ABC News)
The assassin told the court he responded with two question marks, and Mr Pye texted back: “one dead, one critical”.
The ex-soldier was to be paid $150,000 for the killing, but was short-changed $50,000, the court heard.
Army experience
The assassin provided more insight into his career as a former soldier and his time spent working overseas, including in war zones.
The man told the court he was an electronics technician by trade, and had worked for many years in south-east Asia, including Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar.
Mr Pye initially made contact with him when he was in Iraq with Shadows Of Hope, suggesting he wanted to volunteer or make a donation.
The man told the court of his earlier experience as a gunner in the Australian artillery reserve and as a forward observer — the soldiers who identify enemy targets and help coordinate attacks on the front line.
The former soldier who shot Nick Martin was a volunteer with combat charity Shadows of Hope. (Supplied: Instagram)
Under cross-examination, the man said he had done charity work to help make the world a better place.
Defence lawyer David Hallowes put it to him that he had always wanted to do something “meaningful”.
“I do,” the sniper replied.
Mr Hallowes suggested the man was “embarrassed and ashamed” over the murder of Nick Martin.
“Absolutely,” the gunman responded.
He had bought a home in Perth’s southern suburbs and lived there occasionally.
In a sign of the high security associated with the trial, glass panels enclosed the witness box as he testified, a very rare measure in a WA court.
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