Bikie bashing victim Clint Starkey died in hospital

THE vicious bashing of a man at Peats Ridge earlier this year which resulted in the death of the victim - 42-year-old Clint Starkey - later in hospital has become a homicide investigation.

Bashing victim Clint Starkey has died in hospital. Picture: generic/file

INQUIRIES into the vicious bashing of a man at Peats Ridge earlier this year have become a homicide investigation after the victim later died in hospital.

Clint David Starkey was taken to the Caltex service station at Peats Ridge by another man about 10pm on April 5 where he was attacked and viciously bashed by up to four members of an outlaw motorcycle gang.

The man who took him to the service station allegedly stood by and watched the 42-year-old receive the horrific beating before driving him to Gosford Hospital shortly before midnight.

The service station at Peats Ridge where Clint Starkey was viciously bashed before it became Caltex. Picture: Google street view

The beating was so severe emergency department staff initially thought he may have been bludgeoned with an axe.

Mr Starkey, who was due to face a sentencing at Gosford District Court on drug offences the following day, was flown to Royal North Shore Hospital. He was placed on life support with critical head injuries but later died.

Brisbane Water crime manager Chief Inspector Glenn Trayhurn confirmed the matter was now being treated as a homicide.

Police released CCTV images of this mid 2000s Red Holden Commodore sedan wanted in relation to the attack.

Chief Insp Trayhurn said detectives went back and re-examined the crime scene.

“We have a number of suspects who we have identified and we’re working through the case.”

A police spokeswoman said Brisbane Water police along with Homicide detectives were “investigating the exact circumstances surrounding the incident”.

A brown or gold early 2000s model Holden Commodore in which the rear passenger tyre may be a spare tyre or have no alloy rim. wanted in relation to the bashing murder.

In June police released images of two cars captured by CCTV and appealed for public ­information.

The man who dropped Mr Starkey at hospital was later charged with concealing a serious indictable offence and firearm offences after police raided his Mangrove Mountain home the next day.

He remains before the Local Court.