<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The hired sniper convicted of murdering a bikie leader at a drag racing event with a long-range shot can be identified after a gag order was lifted.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Benjamin Luke Johnston gunned down Nick Martin at </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/perth" rel="" target="" title="Perth"><span>Perth</span></a><span> Motorplex in December 2020 as the then-Rebels chief sat with his wife and associates in the spectator area.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The former soldier's name was previously suppressed by the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/courts" rel="" target="" title="courts"><span>courts</span></a><span> for his safety after he agreed to give evidence against Comancheros bikie David James Pye, who has also been convicted of Martin's murder.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/network-takes-on-kyle-and-jackie-o/4a0ae0f1-d903-4194-a492-1b61cb15c834"><strong><span>'Don't believe the bulls--t': Kyle's spray outside court</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Johnston, 43, successfully applied to the Supreme Court today for the order to be lifted, saying it was negatively impacting his life in prison.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mail was not reaching him and people were having difficulty booking prison visits to see him, Justice Joseph McGrath said as he delivered his reasons for lifting the gag order.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The prison population knows who Johnston is, the court heard, and he has no fears for his safety in protective custody.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/sniper-who-gunned-down-bikie-boss-in-perth-western-australia-unmasked-by-court/463f0377-5e81-4e5f-851a-7847288df74f" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He also wants to enrol in a university course while he is serving his 20-year sentence and the suppression order on his identity was preventing this, Justice McGrath said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The former army reservist who was an artillery gunner carried out extensive research for his sniper attack, including flying a drone over Martin's home to assess the security and approaching within 10m of him at the racetrack.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On another night, he sneaked into the venue and moved a safety ramp which interfered with the line of sight between Martin's usual seat and his intended shooting position.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/king-charles-america-visit-hopes-to-repair-us-and-uk-relations/ef94ceac-215b-40b9-a1e1-3bf8a9ca2359" rel="" target="" title="Can King Charles's visit rebuild UK ties with Trump?"><strong><span>Can King Charles's visit rebuild UK ties with Trump?</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The gunman, who said he worked for BHP at one time, tested his high-powered rifle by firing 200 rounds at a small target in isolated bushland.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On the night of the killing, Johnston put on a camouflage suit and gloves, climbed through a hole in the fence and crawled to his position in a heavily vegetated area.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The assassin 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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He fired a single shot from a .308-calibre rifle which struck Martin on the chest, causing him to exclaim: "I've been shot".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Exactly 365 metres," Johnston said during Pye's trial.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"His entourage of bikies were sitting around him to act as muscle protection."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Martin died in hospital but his son-in-law survived.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/spotlight-on-producer-at-heart-of-rebels-wilson--film-fight/b3f51ab6-75ad-480c-b89c-32e1fbd0f168"><strong><span>Actor claims she was 'mocked' by Rebel Wilson's wife amid feud</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>About 2000 people were at the event and a five-year-old child was seated behind Martin.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Johnston would ordinarily have faced life imprisonment, but he will become eligible for parole after serving 18 years, after he received a substantial sentencing discount in exchange for his co-operation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The trained marksman first met Pye via Instagram when he was working for a medical charity in Iraq, the court has previously heard.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After he returned to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/australia" rel="" target="" title="Australia"><span>Australia</span></a><span>, he allegedly visited Pye at his home in Perth's southern suburbs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said he asked Pye to supply him with the illegal drug MDMA, to which the bikie allegedly said he could get a kilogram.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He was the dodgiest person I knew," Johnston said during Pye's trial.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pye later offered Johnston $150,000 to kill Martin, but he was ultimately paid $100,000.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Johnston was arrested weeks later, having been under police surveillance in relation to the Motorplex shooting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pye is scheduled for sentencing on May 13.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His lawyer Paul Holmes opposed Johnston's application, saying his client was likely to appeal his conviction and Johnston could testify if there's a retrial.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a 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