Menace, and cops, in the air at bikie chief Nick Martin’s funeral

A police marksman leaned out of a helicopter over Pinneroo Valley cemetery in Perth on Wednesday at the funeral of Rebels bikie leader Nick Martin.

Rebels bikies escort the coffin of slain West Australian gang president Nick Martin to Pinnaroo Valley cemetery for his funeral on Wednesday. Picture: Tony McDonough

A police marksman leaned out of a helicopter over Pinnaroo Valley cemetery in Perth on Wednesday as 10 Rebels bikies carried their slain president in a coffin lacquered end to end with $100 notes.

Rival gang members converged for a lingering, tearful farewell to 51-year-old Nick Martin. His murder at the drag races at Kwinana, south of Perth, on December 12 has given police cause to fear a bikie war. A five-year-old boy was injured when a bullet from an unknown shooter hit Martin in his armpit that Sunday night. Martin stood and reportedly told wife Amanda: “Babe I’ve been shot”.

It was too late. The bullet had already ripped through Martin’s chest and he died at the scene.

Martin had been president of the Rebels in Perth for 12 years, a period when police believe outlaw motorcycle clubs in Western Australia grew rich from the state’s burgeoning meth trade. His 140kg body arrived at the outdoor service to the sound of Bob Dylan’s Hurricane, the story of Rubin Carter’s unfair treatment by police and courts.

The pallbearers took him out to Gangsters and Strippers by Too $hort, a song that likens women to “shit stains”.

Former ABC radio presenter Verity James was master of ceremonies at the funeral. She stood in front of a floral replica of the US Confederate flag. A real Confederate flag flew in the background.

A police marksman watched from a helicopter over the proceedings. Picture: Tony McDonough

“Nick Martin was brutally stolen from you,” Ms James said at the beginning of the service.

“We know Nick lived in a world where violence was not uncommon, but this was underhand and cowardly. He did not have a chance to defend himself or his cherished family.”

A photo tribute to Martin ended with a short video of a process server from the Australian Taxation Office telling Martin: “Consider yourself served.”

Martin replied “Go f..k yourself” and “f..k off, c..t”.

Mourners applauded.

Between expletive-laden anecdotes about Martin’s life, his daughter and wife separately shared their memories of him as a loving dad and partner.

Amanda Martin said he was not frightened of anyone except her.

Nick Martin.

The funeral included a recorded message from former Rebels national president Alex Vella, who is in exile in Malta. Seated in front of a Rebels flag, Vella read from a poem he wrote about his dead friend.

“Of his family he was proud. He will tell you very loud,” Vella recited.

The service ended with a Haka from members of the Mongrel Mob motorcycle gang.

Western Australian police responded to Martin‘s murder with a series of raids on homes and clubhouses across Perth. They are working to establish who wanted Martin dead but they are also trying to snuff out any plans for more violence.