Tom Starling, Canberra Raiders: Horrific footage reveals cop punching NRL star

Shocking footage of the alleged melee at a Central Coast bar which ended with Canberra Raiders star Tom Starling punched in the face has been revealed. Watch the violent footage.

Shocking footage tendered in court has shown the alleged zenith of a massive brawl at a Central Coast bar, ending in an NRL star being punched multiple times in the face by a police officer.

Footage shown in court during the hearing of Canberra Raiders hooker Tom Starling shows a number of police officers holding back the NRL star before repeatedly punching him in the face, forcing him to topple backwards, leaving him with a bloody nose.

CCTV footage from the Shady Palms hotel, where the alleged melee took place in late 2020, came to light this week as Starling and his two brothers fight charges related to the incident in which a birthday party turned sour, leading to their arrests.

Canberra Raiders hooker Tom Starling, 23, was arrested alongside brothers Jackson, 25, and Josh, 20, for their alleged role in a 20-person melee on December 5, 2020.

Tom and Jackson have each pleaded not guilty to the charge of resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, while Josh has pleaded not guilty to charges of resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, common assault and assault officer in execution of duty.

Screengrab of Tom Starling getting punched by a police officer at Shady Palms hotel in late 2020.

A second screengrab from the footage.

A fourth person, Jesse Byrne, has also pleaded not guilty to resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty.

In the second day of a hearing at Downing Centre Local Court, lawyer Samar Singh-Panwar alleged Shady Palms hotel head of security Khan Morris called Starling’s mother “a f**king slut”.

The court had previously heard the melee began when Mr Morris told the Starling boys’ mother to sit down due to Covid regulations, which led to him being yelled at by Josh.

“He shouted ‘don’t f**king speak to my mum like that’ at me a couple of times,” Mr Morris told the court on Monday.

NRL player Tom Starling at Downing Centre Court in Sydney. Picture: Dylan Coker

During cross-examination on Tuesday, Mr Singh-Panway alleged Mr Morris uttered obscenities at Starling’s mother.

“What happened is, as (Ms Starling) walked away … what you said as she walked away was f**king s**t, didn’t you?” Mr Singh-Panway said.

“(That’s when) Joshua Starling at some stage said words to the effect of ‘don’t talk to my mother like that’.” Mr Morris denied this was the case.

Senior constable Brett Ransley gave evidence he was called to Shady Palms when the altercation broke out and observed a large group of people at the top of the stairs at the venue, including Tom Starling.

Tom Starling of the Raiders celebrates scoring a try. Picture: Mark Nolan.

Mr Ransley alleged Tom was getting ready to fight until he fell down the stairs. When Tom walked back up the stairs, Mr Ransley arrested him.

“He was advancing towards them … (getting ready) to brawl,” Mr Ransley said.

After his arrest, Tom allegedly screamed and yelled, dropping his body weight several times.

But Mr Singh-Panway questioned the truthfulness of Mr Ransley’s account of events. He told the court Tom was pushed down the stairs by a security guard and never attempted to walk back up.

“What actually happened … is (Tom) was placed in a seated position by a security guard … and he was placed in a headlock,” Mr Singh-Panway said.

“(You were) just embellishing in your statement, weren’t you?”

Mr Ransley denied he had embellished the statement or was lying.

The hearing continues.