One arrested in dawn raids as police draw the net on who killed Clint Starkey

A MAN fatally bashed at a Peats Ridge service station by up to four bikies had a falling out with the girlfriend of a rising member of the Rebels, police will allege.

A MAN fatally bashed at a Peats Ridge service station by up to four bikies had a falling out with the girlfriend of a rising member of the Rebels, police will allege.

Clint David Starkey was taken to the Caltex service station about midnight on April 6 where he was allegedly brutally bashed by four Rebels bikies.

His so-called friend who took him to the service station allegedly helped clean up the crime scene before dropping Starkey at Gosford Hospital.

Starkey’s injuries were so severe emergency staff initially thought he had been bludgeoned by an axe.

The 42-year-old was flown to Royal North Shore in a critical condition but later died on June 12 as a result of his injuries.

CCTV image released by NSW Police showing a number of people that may be able to help with information into the death of Clint Starkey, aged 42, who presented at Gosford Hospital with serious head injuries. He remained in a critical condition until he passed away on Monday 12 June 2017.

Earlier this morning dozens of police conducted dawn raids of four properties at Woy Woy and across the Central Coast.

A 37-year-old was arrested during the raids and is currently assisting detectives from Strike Force Bartondale, established to investigate the murder.

He is yet to be charged with any offence.

Police also released CCTV footage this morning of at least two of the men detectives believe could also assist them with information regarding the vicious assault.

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

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin said police from the Homicide Squad, Strike Force Bartondale, the Raptor Gangs Squad and the Public Order Riot Squad raided four properties at 6am “looking for items related to this particular matter”.

“This was a particularly violent offence, a man was bashed to death,” he said.

“We know four people were directly involved in it, we know others were involved in the planning and organisation of it, people were involved in the cleaning up of the crime scene and taking the victim to the hospital.”

CCTV image showing the car Starkey was taken to the service station in.

He urged people to come forward and warned that “if police have spoken to you about this” previously, then they could be charged with a criminal offence if it turned out they were concealing more than they initially let on.

Chief Insp Jubelin would not be drawn on a motive other than a “dispute” between Rebels members and Mr Starkey.

However the Express Advocate can reveal that police believe the alleged “hit” was orchestrated by a rising member of the Rebels after Starkey had a falling out with the man’s girlfriend.

Police hope to speak to these two men.

Police will allege Starkey’s friend was contacted to drive him to the service station where two men were waiting.

At least another two men turned up in a separate vehicle moments before Starkey was bashed and had his head stomped on.

The next day police raided his friend’s Mangrove Mountain property where they allegedly found a Winchester rifle and a Savage-branded .22 calibre rifle, a prohibited weapon and ammunition.

The 40-year-old was arrested at the scene and taken to Gosford Police Station, where he was charged with concealing a serious offence, two counts of possessing prohibited firearms and one count each of possessing a weapon and ammunition.

He remains before the courts.

Chief Insp Jubelin said even though the CCTV footage released today was not the clearest of pictures, “I think if you knew the person that you would clearly be able to identify them”.

“I’m sure there are people out there who know exactly who these people are in the footage,” he said.

“If I was the person in those images I would be pretty worried because it’s clear people will be able to identify them.”