Sniper claimed he ‘did a community service’ by killing WA underworld heavyweight, court told

21 hours ago 3

A former soldier who killed Rebels bikie Nick Martin in a brazen public shooting in 2020 has admitted in court he felt he had “done a community service” in taking out the underworld heavyweight.

The man, whose identity has been suppressed since his arrest the following year, is giving evidence for a second day in the trial of former Comanchero, now Mongols bikie David Pye, who is accused of hiring him to kill Martin.

Pye denies he paid the 39-year-old $150,000 to murder Martin, and is also fighting allegations he asked the man to murder an ex-girlfriend and exiled Comanchero Ray Cilli.

On Friday, the shooter – who has already been sentenced over the killing – continued to be cross-examined by Pye’s barrister David Hallowes, SC, who alleged the man only “put David Pye in” to get a discounted sentence.

Hallowes also told the court the shooter was trying to “get the best story out there”, having joked with friends about a multimillion-dollar book deal.

The man admitted he initially lied about pulling the trigger, but then was keen to hear about others who had received reduced sentences, at one point claiming that if he didn’t confess soon he would “miss the snitching bus”.

A court sketch of bikie David Pye, who is accused of paying a former soldier to shoot Martin.

Hallowes put it to the soldier-turned-assassin that he was “proud” of murdering Martin.

“Did you say you had done a community service by taking him out?” Hallowes asked him.

“Yes,” he replied.

Did you say you were proud of what you had done? – I’m not proud of what I’ve done.

You’re not proud now, but you were on March 30 [2021]? – If you can prove that then ... but I would say no.

The court heard the soldier’s then-girlfriend, whose identity is also suppressed, was initially also charged with Martin’s murder, with Hallowes suggesting the man lied to protect her.

“Did you say, speaking in relation to [the girlfriend], ‘I’d tell you I killed Princess Diana to keep her out of trouble’?” Hallowes asked.

“You were doing whatever you could to not only get the best outcome for you, you were also concerned about [the girlfriend]?”

The soldier responded: “I was more concerned about what was happening with [the girlfriend], who was arrested for murder.”

Hallowes suggested to the man that the only reason he confessed was because of the strength of the prosecution case against him.

“You knew if you pleaded guilty you were going to be sentenced to jail?” Hallowes asked.

“Yes,” the man replied.

“You knew if you didn’t cooperate with the police and tell them that Pye was involved that you weren’t going to be getting a discount?”

“Yep.”

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