James Crane: Man charged with Clint Starkey murder applies for bail

A man who allegedly masterminded the bashing murder of a man at the hands of alleged bikie associates has been granted bail, two and a half years after his arrest.

A man who allegedly masterminded the bashing murder of Clint Starkey, 42, at a Central Coast service station has been granted bail, two and a half years after his arrest.

Alleged Rebels bikie associate James Crane, 56, was charged with murder for allegedly taking part in a joint criminal enterprise for Mr Starkey to be killed by four Rebels bikie associates in April 2017. Crane has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Supreme Court heard the alleged incident involved one of the attackers stomping on Mr Starkey’s head as he lay defenceless on the ground.

Crane’s barrister Steven Boland said shortly before the alleged bashing Mr Starkey had made threats against Colin Crane – James’ brother – and a female relative.

The court heard during the bail hearing last week that Mr Starkey had allegedly bragged he had “the best view on the mountain” and could sniper Colin Crane or his family from inside his own home.

“I’ve got things set up at my house that you wouldn’t believe,” Mr Starkey allegedly said.

“I don’t need to come to your house anyway I can sniper (from his home).”

Later that night Mr Starkey was “delivered” to a service station where a group of Rebels allegedly assaulted him so badly he spent two months in a coma before he died, the court heard.

The bail hearing heard evidence a man had said in a police statement the alleged assault “was supposed to be a touch up” but ended up being “way more than a f**king touch up”.

Justice Hamill granted Crane strict conditional bail noting delays to his trial date as a result of Covid lockdowns, his poor health and a lack of evidence he would interfere with witnesses.

The conditions of bail include a nightly curfew, a $150,000 surety, daily reporting to police and a requirement to live at a Springfield address.

The matter will return to the Supreme Court next year for trial.

EARLIER – by Anton Rose on October 15, 2021

An alleged Central Coast bikie associate allegedly “had a moral obligation” to inform his brother where Clint Starkey was just before he died because he threatened to assassinate him and murder his children, a court has heard.

More details have emerged about what allegedly led to Mr Starkey’s brutal death outside a service station in 2017 after police fought to keep James Crane behind bars on remand in the Supreme Court on Thursday.

Terrigal man Crane, 56, has been charged with murder for allegedly masterminding Mr Starkey’s bashing in Mangrove Mountain by several Rebels bikies after days of his threats to his younger brother Colin Crane. Crane has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

James Crane, pictured, was charged with murder in 2019. Picture: Facebook

His trial is due to start next year. Picture: Facebook

His barrister Steven Boland said Mr Starkey threatened a woman related to Crane at work the day before who pleaded that she had a young baby at home.

Mr Starkey allegedly bragged he had “the best view on the mountain” and could sniper Colin Crane – James’s brother – or his family from inside his own home.

“I’ve got things set up at my house that you wouldn’t believe,” Mr Starkey allegedly said.

“I don’t need to come to your house anyway I can sniper (from his home).”

He is one of seven people charged over Mr Starkey’s death. Picture: Facebook

Mr Boland told the court Crane “had a moral obligation” to disclose Mr Starkey’s location to his brother after he allegedly made serious threats towards his family.

“Everyone knows Clint Starkey is mad on guns. Who wouldn’t say (where he was). That doesn’t make you a murderer,” Mr Boland said.

“Everyone was keenly worried about what this man was about to do.”

Clint Starkey, 42. Picture: Supplied

Later that night Mr Starkey was “delivered” to a service station where a group of Rebels allegedly assaulted him so badly he spent two months in a coma before he died, the court heard.

The Crown prosecutor alleged in court Crane’s role in organising the attack was unravelled in several call logs, text messages between other men involved and in CCTV footage of them together prior to Mr Starkey’s death.

“It was supposed to be a touch up but that was way more than a f****** touch up,” one person involved allegedly said to police.

Justice Peter Hamill will hand down a decision on Crane’s bail next week.

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