By Ezra Holt and Claire Ottaviano
A Perth man alleged to have hired the hit man that killed Rebels bikie boss Nick Martin has been granted a judge alone trial.
David Pye – a rival bikie – is accused of ordering and allegedly paying more than $150,000 for the hit on Martin, who was fatally shot in front of horrified onlookers, including his family, at Kwinana Motorplex in 2020.
Murder accused man David Pye walking out of court in 2013 in front of his former ally and alleged victim, Nick Martin.Credit: 9 News Perth
In the Supreme Court of WA on Friday, Justice Bruno Fiannaca said he was granting the application to have the trial heard in the absence of a jury, but did not elaborate on his decision.
However, it has been speculated that Martin’s high-profile assassination and the arrest and conviction that followed would make an impartial jury almost impossible to find.
In December 2021, the former ADF soldier who carried out the hit – and whose identity has been suppressed – was sentenced to 20 years living in a small prison unit under extremely restrictive conditions, with limited opportunities for exercise or to even see the sky.
Handing down the sentence at the time, Justice Stephen Hall said the shooter’s cooperation with police had been “exceptional” and he deserved a significant discount in his sentence, but warned if he failed to testify against the man who ordered the hit he would be re-sentenced to life with a minimum of 30 years.
The contract killing was meticulously planned, Justice Hall said as he laid out the details of the case.
It was early 2020 and the convicted murderer was volunteering with Shadows of Hope, an American combat charity that specialises in providing medical aid and combat training in war zones.
He has also penned a yet-to-be-published autobiography.
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