Colin Crane, James Crane: Clint Starkey murder accused bail decision
A pair of former Rebels bikie brothers were back in court to learn if they are to be freed as they await trial for the alleged murder of a Central Coast man.
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A pair of bikie brothers have been denied bail on charges of allegedly masterminding the murder of Central Coast man Clint Starkey.
Colin and James Cranes, who appeared via video link from the maximum security Lithgow Correctional Centre, were visibly unhappy with the decision by Justice Mark Ierace .
“What the hell,” said one of the brothers before the live stream was promptly cut off.
Justice Ierace was brief in his remarks to the court.
“The application for bail is refused for both of you,” he said.
“The reason is that cause is not shown.
“I have prepared my judgment in writing. Your counsel can give each of you a copy of the reasons.”
Justice Ierace did not make the judgments available for publication.
Yesterday the NSW Supreme Court heard allegations Rebels bikies were only meant to “touch up” but not kill Mr Starkey who was brutally assaulted at a service station in April 2017.
Neither of the men are accused of being among the four Rebels who physically assaulted Mr Starkey at a Peats Ridge service station.
Instead they are accused of ordering the fatal bashing.
Colin and James Crane, who were previously Rebels members, have been locked up on remand since July 2018 and April 2019 respectively on charges of murdering Mr Starkey, 42, who died after spending two months in a coma.
Defence barrister Dennis Stewart argued while the brothers were “concerned” by Mr Starkey’s actions, their intention was not to have him killed but rather to give him a “touch up” and “pull him up” on his behaviour.
Both men, who appeared via video link in their prison greens, claimed to no longer be active in the Rebels.
A white haired and bespectacled James Crane, 55, said he had his colours taken away in 2015 and a balding Colin, 52, claimed to have been “retired” for years.
The court heard a dramatic series of alleged events leading up to Mr Starkey’s death included the victim “revving and accelerating” towards a car containing one of Colin Crane’s relatives on April 3.
Justice Mark Ierace heard an allegation that the “threats and provocative behaviour” by Mr Starkey lead Colin Crane to tell his partner Nicole to move to her mother’s house in the days leading up to the alleged murder.
Mr Stewart said there was a “show of force” involving numerous members of the Rebels gang going to Mr Starkey’s parents home to warn him off.
He argued the show of force, which happened several days prior to his bashing, showed his clients wanted the situation to de-escalate.
He also explained comments made by Colin Crane regarding his wish to kill Mr Starkey were taken out of context.
Mr Stewart referred to the statement made by Mr Starkey’s aunt Kim Gane as she recounted a conversation had with Colin Crane over a cup of tea.
“In my submission Ms Gane makes it clear that type of language was used by various persons in that locality,” Mr Stewart said.
“She said, ‘To be honest I didn’t think the comment meant anything… Colin shoots his mouth off all the time, all the guys here do, but nothing seems to come of it’.
“She then proceeded to make Colin’s cup of tea.”
Mr Stewart argued if Colin Crane was present on the night of Mr Starkey’s death it may not have happened.
“If he had the opportunity to be there at the Caltex he would have had the opportunity to be a constraining influence but instead these other men were there.”
However Justice Ierace questioned whether the events of April 4 changed Colin Crane’s position.
It was then, the court heard, that Mr Starkey told Colin Crane’s partner he would harm the families of anyone who threatened him.
The next day he was attacked.
Crown prosecutor Mark Hobart was adamant both men remain behind bars despite the trial being unlikely to be set down until early 2021.
“They’re up to their necks into this, both of them. They organised this,” he said.