The rival gang member who allegedly masterminded the fatal shooting of WA bikie Nick Martin has made his first appearance in court, accused also of trying to organise the murders of two other people.
David James Pye was charged on Monday with five offences, including the murder of Martin and two counts of inciting another person to murder two other people — a 35-year-old woman and a 35-year-old bikie gang member living overseas.
He appeared via video link from Casuarina prison flanked by three guards, shackled and wearing an orange jumpsuit, sporting a large tattoo on his head.
The courtroom was closed to the public and only court staff, lawyers, members of the media and police officers were allowed to be present.
Shooter allegedly paid $300,000
It is alleged Mr Pye, who is a member of the Comancheros bikie gang, paid a 35-year-old former soldier $300,000 to murder Martin, who was shot dead in a sniper-style attack while watching drag races with his family at the Kwinana Motorplex in December last year.
The shooter, whose identity is suppressed, has pleaded guilty to a charge of murder and is due to face a sentencing hearing in the Supreme Court next month.
Mr Pye is also alleged to have offered money to the shooter to murder a 35-year-old woman, whose name was suppressed, and a member of another bikie gang, who lives overseas.
Mr Pye was not required to plead to any of the charges and was remanded in custody until he appears in Stirling Gardens Magistrates court next month, after the scheduled sentencing of the shooter.
Suppression order on identity denied
Nick John, a lawyer for the WA Police Commissioner, appeared at the hearing to apply for a suppression order on Mr Pye's identity.
Mr John said the application was made on two grounds — to try to protect the safety of the accused man and his family, and to ensure that if and when he stands trial, it will be fair.
The application was supported by Mr Pye's lawyer, Paul Holmes.
But Chief Magistrate Steven Heath decided against making a suppression order after questioning what it was going to achieve.
Mr Heath said Mr Pye's name had already been widely reported and there had also been a police media conference on Monday afternoon about him being charged.
"If the suppression order had been made prior to the wide publication of his name that'd be appropriate, but given the wide reporting, it is no longer appropriate," he said.
Lawyer unsure if charges will be defended
Outside court, Mr Holmes agreed that any suppression order would have been "superfluous" given his client's name had already been published.
But he said "to a certain extent" he had concerns about the safety of Mr Pye and his family.
He said he had not yet taken any instructions from Mr Pye about whether he was going to defend the charges and if he did, it could take years for the case to get to trial.
"There's a lot of procedural aspects between now and then," Mr Holmes said.
