Six former Rebels bikie members learn fate over their involvement in fatal bashing of Clint Starkey

A high-standing Rebels bikie member ordered four younger men to bash someone, with those men sent to prison for many years.

The devastated parents of a man who was bashed by four Rebels bikie members will never know who delivered the fatal blow during the horrific assault at a Central Coast service station.

Clint Starkey was brutally beaten to death outside the Caltex at Peats Ridge by four Rebels OMCG members – Guy Keith Robertson, Beau Andrew McDonald, Adam David Symons and Jake McDonough.

Mr Starkey was killed in the “severe, targeted bashing” at 10.07pm on April 5, 2017 where he sustained head injuries and bleeding on the brain.

He was left unconscious and bleeding on the service station’s driveway, before he was rushed to Gosford Hospital by a friend, but died nine weeks later.

Brothers James and Colin Crane were found by a Supreme Court jury to have orchestrated the 42-year-old’s death.

Colin, 55, was convicted of murder accessory before the fact and was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment to begin on April 8, 2019. He has a non-parole period of 10 years and nine months, meaning he will be eligible for release in 2030.

James, 57, was also convicted of murder accessory before the fact and was sentenced to 6 years behind bars with a non-parole period of four years. He will be eligible for parole in January 2024.

Symons, 41, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment to begin on October 31, 2017 and a non-parole period of 12 years. He will be eligible for parole in 2029.

McDonald, 30, was convicted of murder and also sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment to begin on 8 September 2018, with a non-parole period of 11 years and six months. He will be eligible for parole in 2030.

Robertson, 33, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 19 years behind bars, commencing on December 21, 2017. He has a non-parole period of 13 years and will be eligible for release in 2030.

McDonough, 30, was convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to seven years and six months to begin on March 20, 2018. He will be eligible for parole in March 2023.

Clint Starkey, 42, of Mangrove Mountain, was bashed to death by four Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang members outside a service station. Picture: Supplied

All six men faced the NSW Supreme Court on Friday, where Justice Desmond Fagan revealed 55-year-old Colin Crane planned for Mr Starkey to be attacked after he allegedly threatened the former man’s family.

Justice Fagan told the court the group, which included Robertson, McDonald, Symons and McDonough, came to the agreement to attack Mr Starkey no later than 9.40pm.

“They agreed to travel in two separate cars, from Woy Woy to Peats Ridge, where they would locate Clint Starkey and assault him,” he said.

“Symons, McDonald and Robertson foresaw the possibility that at least one of the participants would intentionally inflict grievous bodily harm in carrying out the enterprise. I am satisfied that, in agreeing to take part, McDonough joined an enterprise for an unlawful battery of such a nature that a reasonable person would recognise that it would carry an appreciable risk of serious injury.”

The court was told both Crane brothers knew Mr Starkey well, but that Colin began to develop issues with him in early April 2017.

Justice Fagan told the court the pair had a “confrontation” in public and shouted at each other, before Mr Starkey “drove his vehicle in a dangerous and threatening manner towards Colin Crane’s vehicle”.

Colin was “shaken and upset” by Mr Starkey’s actions and said to a worker at the General Store “I’m going to kill him”, the court heard.

James Crane, of Terrigal, made the call to disclose Mr Starkey’s location on the night, the court heard. Picture: Facebook

James Crane will be eligible for release in 2024. Picture: Facebook

On the evening of April 5, Mr Starkey went to the Mangrove Mountain Memorial Club for a drink, where Colin Crane’s partner, Nicole Tedder, had been working and who confronted the man about his threat to shoot up her home. Ms Tedder is not alleged to have engaged in any wrongdoing.

Despite trying to reason with him, Mr Starkey “maintained” his threat, but Ms Tredder didn’t want to tell her partner, as she didn’t want to make matters worse.

The court heard Ms Tedder’s manager was worried and called Colin Crane and told him she was upset.

Justice Fagan told the court Colin then called his brother six times in just a few minutes before finally reaching James, telling him about the threats to his partner.

“I’m going to find him and kill him,” Colin Crane told his partner’s manager, the court heard.

Mr Starkey and his friend then drove to the Peaks Ridge Caltex, where they purchased some items and remained outside the car.

While they were at the service station, James Crane told his brother where the men were, who then phoned Symons.

Minutes later, Symons, Robertson, McDonald and McDonough arrived to the service station and blocked Mr Starkey’s car from leaving.

Arrest image of Colin Crane, a life-member of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG). Picture: NSW Police

The court heard Symons jumped out of the car and pulled Mr Starkey from the passenger seat before throwing him on the ground and then started kicking him.

The three other men joined in on the attack, which was recorded on the service station’s CCTV.

Justice Fagan said he could make no distinction between the four assailants and the case had not been conducted on the knowledge of who made particular blows and was the cause of death.

“Symons and McDonald played an equal part in the attack. They both kicked and stomped on Mr Starkey and they continued with kicking, punching and kneeing after Robertson and McDonough had walked away,” Justice Fagan said.

“Robertson’s participation was the most vicious, commencing with a powerful kick to the head, followed by further kicks to the head and shoulder region.

“After initially desisting from the attack, Robertson returned when Mr Starkey was motionless and evidently defenceless on the ground. Robertson then delivered four distinct, powerful stomps to Mr Starkey’s head.

“On account of Robertson’s four final stomps, his participation was the worst. Symons’ and McDonald’s contributions were equal and McDonough’s was the least.”

Justice Fagan said he was satisfied Colin Crane conveyed the message to his brother that he wanted Mr Starkey “found and beaten” to teach him a lesson for threatening his family.

CCTV image released by NSW Police during the investigation into Mr Starkey’s death.

The court heard the message was then communicated to the four assailants by “means that cannot be identified”.

“There is equally no doubt on the evidence that from about 9:30pm on 5 April, 2017 Colin Crane was the one person who had strong reason to wish Clint Starkey harm,” he said.

Originally published as Six former Rebels bikie members learn fate over their involvement in fatal bashing of Clint Starkey