{"id":748931,"date":"2026-04-24T03:14:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T03:14:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/748931\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T03:14:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T03:14:19","slug":"benjamin-luke-johnston-revealed-as-sniper-who-killed-former-bikie-boss-nick-martin-at-perth-motorplex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/748931\/","title":{"rendered":"Benjamin Luke Johnston revealed as sniper who killed former bikie boss Nick Martin at Perth Motorplex"},"content":{"rendered":"

The former soldier who publicly assassinated ex-Rebels bikie boss Nick Martin at Perth Motorplex in 2020 can be publicly identified for the first time, after he successfully overturned a court order suppressing his identity.<\/p>\n

Benjamin Luke Johnston was hired by David Pye to murder Mr Martin, killing the victim with a shot from a sniper rifle at long range across the motorplex.<\/p>\n

In December 2021, Johnston was sentenced to 20 years in jail over the killing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Three<\/p>\n

David James Pye (right) leaves the Perth District Court with former Rebels president Nick Martin (left) in 2013. (AAP Image: Angie Raphael)<\/p>\n

Johnston’s testimony was critical in the trial against Pye, who paid the sniper $100,000 to shoot Mr Martin and who earlier this year was found guilty of ordering the hit.<\/p>\n

“He [Pye] told me Nick Martin had ordered a hit on him and he wanted to put a hit on Nick Martin,” Johnston told the court.<\/p>\n

He also said he was to be paid $150,000 for the killing, but was short-changed $50,000.<\/p>\n

The sniper told the court he was an experienced assassin who had worked in security for foreign-based charities in Iraq and Syria.<\/p>\n

He claimed he had carried out so many executions he had lost count.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Ben Luke Johnston had a large social media presence. (Supplied)<\/p>\n

During the Pye case, the court heard Johnston was interviewed by the AFP in April 2021 after his arrest over the motorplex killing, over suspected involvement in terrorist activities in Iraq.<\/p>\n

Johnston had earlier told the court Pye contacted him when he was working in security in Iraq for the Shadows of Hope charity group.<\/p>\n

The group describes itself as “the world’s most fearless charity” and provides security advice and medical assistance for doctors who volunteer in war zones.<\/p>\n

Social media presence<\/p>\n

Prior to his arrest, Johnston had a large social media presence in the form of active YouTube, Facebook and Instagram pages.<\/p>\n

In a now-removed post promoting his involvement in the Shadows of Hope charity Johnston, known as “Bj”, was described as an “incredible volunteer” as well as a “thrill-seeker and heart-breaker”.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Johnston wearing army fatigues. (Supplied)<\/p>\n

“Bj is an Australian ex-soldier and veteran of two wars having served privately as both a team leader, sniper and combat medic,” the post read.<\/p>\n

“While he used to spend his civilian life as an electronics engineer, he is much better known as a prolific wingsuit BASE-jumper who has stared [sic] in documentaries and competed on the world stage \u2026 the local Kurds have given him the name Baz, which simply means ‘Hawk’.”<\/p>\n

The videos show him and other people jumping off tall structures, including skyscrapers in Hong Kong, a drilling rig and mountainous terrain, with one of the videos garnering more than 85,000 views.<\/p>\n

“Just your typical Aussie Smart-ass,” his YouTube channel description read.<\/p>\n

“My drinking buddies have a Base jumping problem.”<\/p>\n

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