David Pye’s hatred for ‘poisonous’ Nick Martin led to underworld killing: Prosecutor

David Pye’s hatred for ‘poisonous’ ex-Rebels bikie boss Nick Martin motivated him to hire an assassin, prosecutors have argued as closing submissions in his high-profile murder trial begin.

Prosecutor Justin Whalley conceded much of the state’s case rested on the evidence of the sniper who shot Martin at the Perth Motorplex in December 2020, but that covert recordings inside Pye’s home, financial records and text exchanges backed up the sniper’s story that he was paid $150,000 to carry out the killing.

David Pye is accused of ordering the hit on Nick Martin, middle, by a sniper.Credit: WAtoday

During his closing submissions in the Supreme Court of Western Australia trial on Wednesday, Whalley laid out why Pye should be found guilty of each charge against him, including Martin’s murder and attempting to order hits on two others, a former partner and another bikie rival.

He reminded the judge-alone trial of the statements made by Pye after the killing, captured on covert recordings inside his home.

“The only good thing that happened that day is Nick Martin was shot,” he said.

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Pye nodded in the dock as Whalley spoke.

“The accused was consumed with hatred and contempt for Nick Martin. He can’t stop talking about him,” Whalley said.

Pye also referred to the ex-Rebels president as a “fat, poisonous c–t” and said he was “a forgotten can of fucking worms at the bottom of Karrakatta cemetery.”

Whalley said Pye displayed similar animosity toward his ex-partner, saying he’d “cut her head off and put it on a star picket” if she gave evidence about his alleged family violence.

He said there was also text messages and money exchanges that indicated Pye had intended to order a hit on rival bikie Raymond Cilli, who was residing in Thailand.

Pye – a former Rebels bikie who defected to the Comancheros and is now a member of the Mongols – denies all the allegations.

The ex-military sniper who Pye allegedly contracted to shoot Martin with a high-powered long-range rifle has admitted to his part in the murder and is now serving a 20-year sentence for the shooting – a reduced stretch in return for testifying against Pye.

Whalley said at its heart, it was important for Justice Joseph McGrath to determine whether there were any other means by which the sniper could have acquired an extra $175,000 other than from Pye’s payment for the hits.

He said evidence showed the sniper made a modest income from his legal employment, and there was no evidence he had skimmed money from elsewhere.

Pye’s defence barrister David Hallowes has accused the sniper of repeatedly lying.

He is expected to deliver his closings later today and tomorrow.

The trial continues.

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