Bikie to be sentenced over murder of rival gang boss

Pye
David James Pye is to be sentenced after hiring an assassin to gun down a rival gang member. -AAP Image

A bikie who paid an assassin to gun down a rival gang member is set to learn his fate.

David James Pye was convicted of murdering Rebels boss Nick Martin at Perth Motorplex in December 2020.

The 43-year-old is scheduled to be sentenced in the Western Australian Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Pye hired an ex-army reservist Benjamin Luke Johnston to carry out the execution in front of a packed crowd at the popular raceway.

He fired a single shot 365 metres from a .308-calibre rifle, which struck Martin on the chest, causing him to exclaim: "I've been shot".

The bullet passed through the 51-year-old's back and struck his son-in-law, Ricky Chapman, in the left leg before lodging in his arm.

Martin died in hospital but his son-in-law survived.

About 2000 people were at the event and a five-year-old child was seated behind Martin.

Pye later sent the shooter a message consisting of two coffin emojis and a hand clap emoji.

"One dead, one serious," he said.

Pye promised Johnston $150,000 to carry out the hit on his one-time ally.

Their relationship had soured when Pye defected from the Rebels to the Comancheros.

The shooter was given $10,000 to do reconnaissance on Martin who was tailed to his house and had a drone flown over the property.

He scoped out Perth Motorplex on two separate occasions.

Johnston was also convicted of Martin's murder and is serving 18 years after receiving a substantial sentencing discount in exchange for his co-operation.