David James Pye murder trial begins<\/a><\/p>\nThe man accused of organising the assassination of former Rebels boss Nick Martin believed the bikie had also arranged to have him killed, a Perth court hears.<\/p>\n
“I had soldiers across the border of Thailand who would’ve undertaken the hit and reconnaissance,” he said.<\/p>\n
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”.<\/p>\n
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'”.<\/p>\n
“You clearly don’t know who I am if you’re asking me to do this shit,” he said he told Mr Pye.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Yesterday the court heard the sniper told Mr Pye he did not kill “innocent women”.<\/p>\n
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”.<\/p>\n
‘It can be done’<\/p>\n
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”.<\/p>\n
During his surveillance operation, he “zeroed in” on Kwinana Motorplex and, after visiting the site, told Mr Pye, “it can be done”.<\/p>\n
“I accepted the contract that day,” he said.<\/p>\n
After he fatally shot Mr Martin, Mr Pye allegedly sent him coffin and clapping emojis through an encrypted app.<\/p>\n
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David James Pye pictured in 2013. (ABC News)<\/p>\n
The assassin told the court he responded with two question marks, and Mr Pye texted back: “one dead, one critical”.<\/p>\n
The ex-soldier was to be paid $150,000 for the killing, but was short-changed $50,000, the court heard.<\/p>\n
Army experience<\/p>\n
The assassin provided more insight into his career as a former soldier and his time spent working overseas, including in war zones.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The man told the court of his earlier experience as a gunner in the Australian artillery reserve and as a forward observer \u2014 the soldiers who identify enemy targets and help coordinate attacks on the front line.<\/p>\n
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The former soldier who shot Nick Martin was a volunteer with combat charity Shadows of Hope. (Supplied: Instagram)<\/p>\n
Under cross-examination, the man said he had done charity work to help make the world a better place.<\/p>\n
Defence lawyer David Hallowes put it to him that he had always wanted to do something “meaningful”.<\/p>\n
“I do,” the sniper replied.<\/p>\n
Mr Hallowes suggested the man was “embarrassed and ashamed” over the murder of Nick Martin.<\/p>\n
“Absolutely,” the gunman responded.<\/p>\n
He had bought a home in Perth’s southern suburbs and lived there occasionally.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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