WA bikie boss to spend 34 years behind bars for speedway killing
Updated ,first published
Perth motorcycle boss David Pye will spend at least the next 34 years in prison after being convicted of ordering the assassination of friend-turned-underworld rival Nick Martin at Kwinana Motorplex in 2020.
The former Comanchero, now a Mongolian, appeared in the WA Supreme Court on Wednesday by Judge Joseph McGrath, almost six years after Martin’s death sent shockwaves through the community.
Martin was shot while watching drag races with family and friends, sparking a widespread manhunt and heated speculation about who fired the fatal shot.
A major police investigation led to the arrest of Waikiki FIFO employee and former Army reservist Benjamin Johnston. It didn’t take long for Martin to reveal that he had been paid by his rival Pye to carry out the murder.
In return he wanted a light punishment; He was sentenced to 20 years in prison for setting up his rifle 300 meters away from Martin and firing the bullet, which penetrated directly into the bicycle heavyweight and entered the arm of his daughter’s partner who was sitting behind him.
Martin died shortly afterwards, and during Pye’s sensational trial Johnston – whose identity was kept secret until a suppression order was lifted this year – told the court how he had been paid $100,000 to carry out the murder.
“What was all this for? There was obvious grudge between the criminal and Mr. Martin.”
Judge Joseph McGrath
Johnston also told the court he thought he was doing a “community service” by taking his bike out.
Pye denied any involvement in the murder and maintained his innocence, but learned Wednesday he will spend the next 34 years behind bars after McGrath sentenced him to life in prison without parole.
During Wednesday’s sentencing, where armed police officers were stationed outside the courthouse, prosecutors described Pye’s actions as “calculated and premeditated.”
Justin Whalley SC said: “The commercial nature of this murder distinguishes it from other crimes of this type.”
“This is a contract murder where the criminal puts a price on life and [Pye] He has repeatedly proven his belief that he can easily get rid of people he doesn’t like by paying them cash.”
Whalley said Martin was loved by his family and friends, and friends wrote victim impact statements to the court detailing how his death affected them.
“[Pye had] “It’s a chilling disrespect for the sanctity of life,” Whalley said.
“What was all this for? There was obvious grudge between the criminal and Mr. Martin.”
McGrath told the cyclist that he had a “hate level” of hostility towards Martin because of his feelings towards the rival Rebels bikie gang, of which Martin was president.
“I see that you show no remorse for your guilt,” McGrath said.
“You keep claiming you weren’t involved in this [and] “Given your allegiance to outlaw motorcycle gangs, I find it difficult to find you have any chance of rehabilitation.”
McGrath said Pye was convicted of “the most heinous form of murder, the premeditated murder of another person” and that the motorcyclist and Johnston were “equally criminally responsible for the murder of Mr Martin”.
Pye was also sentenced to eight years in prison for inciting Johnston to kill his ex-girlfriend because she complained to police while he was in witness protection, and seven years for wounding Martin’s son-in-law, Ricky Chapman, when he was grazed by a bullet on the highway.
He received a further 10 years for inciting Johnston to kill exiled cyclist Ray Cilli, who was living in Thailand, and a further 16 years for two money charges of paying Johnston to pay for the deaths of both Martin and Cilli.
However, these sentences will run concurrently with the 34 years Martin will serve for ordering his death, and will be backdated to reflect the time he has spent in custody since November 2021.
Pye will be 73 before he becomes eligible for parole.
