Man wrongly accused of killing former Rebels boss awarded $250k in damages

An innocent man wrongly named as the assassin who murdered senior bikie Nick Martin has been awarded an eye-watering amount for the defamatory accusation.

An innocent man wrongly identified online as the assassin who murdered senior bikie Nick Martin has been awarded $250,000 in damages for the defamatory accusation.

The former Rebels boss was shot by a sniper while sitting with his family at Perth Motorplex in Kwinana in December 2020.

The hitman was a former soldier, who was charged with murder about three months later and eventually sentenced to 20 years in prison.

His identity remains suppressed.

A man has been jailed for murdering Rebels bikie boss Nick Martin in Western Australia. Picture: Facebook

But David Siglin posted the innocent man’s name and three photos of him on Facebook, claiming he had been arrested for the crime.

“The question is whether it is thought that (the man) has performed a public service, assuming of course that he is guilty as charged?” the post read.

“If he did, in fact, ping notorious bikie boss Nick Martin, the question is: Why did he do it? Was he suddenly moved to magnanimously clean up our community or was he contracted to act as he did?

“If he was contracted then by whom and for what reason?

“His lawyer David Manera did not give a commanding performance on the steps of court. He will need to lift his game considerably.”

Several people replied to the post, telling Siglin he had named the wrong person, and it could put the man and his family in danger.

The real killer’s identity remains suppressed. Picture: Facebook

But Siglin initially refused to remove the post, saying there was “nothing stupid about outing a person who has been charged” – until two days later when he was contacted by a detective.

The innocent man learnt about the post from a friend while at dinner, then deleted his social media accounts.

WA District Court Judge Wendy Gillan said the man was angry that he had been dragged into something he had nothing to do with.

“He was very concerned for his own security, from the risk of retribution by outlaw motorcycle gangs, but was also concerned about the security of his family and friends who may be caught in the crossfire,” she said.

Judge Gillan noted the man left his home, sold his belongings and withdrew from his usual life.

“It caused him considerable hurt, fear and anxiety. I find that the emotional impact on the plaintiff was severe for more than a year,” she said.

Former Rebels boss Nick Martin was murdered in Perth. Picture: Supplied

The judge also found the imputations were very serious.

“It is difficult to think of a worse thing than identifying an innocent person as a murderer, an assassin, a contract killer, particularly where the accusation relates to such a public crime and where the potential ramifications for that innocent person could have been very dangerous,” she said.

“They are at the highest end of the scale of serious defamations. The allegation made carried with it the risk, or at the very least, a reasonable fear of retribution.

“The personal harm to the plaintiff is very real.”

Siglin was ordered to pay the innocent man $250,000 in damages, plus $42,041 in interest.

Originally published as Man wrongly accused of killing former Rebels boss awarded $250k in damages