Sniper who gunned down bikie boss in Perth unmasked by court

The hired sniper convicted of killing a motorcycle leader at a drag racing event with a long-range shot can be identified after a gag order is lifted.

Johnston, 43, today successfully applied to the High Court to have the order lifted, saying it was having a negative impact on his life in prison.

The mail did not reach him and people had difficulty booking prison visits to see him, Judge Joseph McGrath said as he gave his reasons for lifting the gag order.

The prison population knows who Johnston is, the court heard, and he should not fear for his safety in custody.

He also wants to enroll in a university course while serving his 20-year prison sentence and the ban on his identity prevented this, Judge McGrath said.

The former Army reservist and artillery gunner conducted extensive research for his sniper attack, including flying a drone over Martin’s home to assess security and getting within 30 feet of him on the track.

On another night, he snuck into the venue and moved a security ramp that disrupted the line of sight between Martin’s usual seat and his intended shooting position.

The gunman, who said he once worked for BHP, tested his high-powered rifle by firing 200 rounds at a small target in remote bushland.

On the night of the murder, Johnston donned a camouflage suit and gloves, climbed through a hole in the fence and crawled to his position in a heavily vegetated area.

The killer watched Martin through the scope of his rifle for about 10 to 15 minutes as he made adjustments based on wind speed calculations and other factors.

He fired a single shot from a .308-caliber rifle that struck Martin in the chest, causing him to exclaim, “I’ve been shot.”

“Exactly 365 yards,” Johnston told Pye during the trial.

“His entourage of bicycles sat around him to serve as muscle protection.”

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

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

There were about 2,000 people at the event and a five-year-old child sat behind Martin.

Johnston would normally have received a life sentence, but he will be eligible for parole after serving 18 years after receiving a significant sentence reduction in exchange for his cooperation.

The trained marksman first met Pye through Instagram while working for a medical charity in Iraq, the court previously heard.

He said he asked Pye to supply him with the illegal drug MDMA, which the cyclist allegedly said he could get a kilo of.

“He was the most unreliable person I knew,” Johnston told Pye during the trial.

Pye later offered Johnston $150,000 to kill Martin, but he was ultimately paid $100,000.

Johnston was arrested weeks later after being under police surveillance in connection with the Motorplex shooting.

Pye will be sentenced on May 13.

His lawyer Paul Holmes opposed Johnston’s application, saying his client would likely appeal his conviction and that Johnston could testify if there is a retrial.

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