Peats Ridge: Alleged Rebels bikies James and Colin Crane among seven men on trial over the 2017 murder of Clint Starkey

A man allegedly fatally bashed at a Peats Ridge service station in 2017 had four bullets in his pockets when he was brought to hospital but a gun was never found, a court has heard.

If you were going to bash someone to the point of serious injury or death why do it at a well lit service station surrounded by CCTV cameras?

That was the question a number of defence barristers posed to the jury presiding over the alleged bashing murder of Clint Starkey at a Peats Ridge Caltex service station.

Five years after the 42-year-old was allegedly beaten so badly he would later die from his injuries, seven men are on trial this week in the Sydney Supreme Court charged over Mr Starkey’s murder.

Among them are brothers James Peter Crane and Colin Steven Crane, who the Crown alleges were linked to the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang and were charged with murder for allegedly orchestrating the bashing after Mr Starkey made threats to members of their family.

A further four men, Guy Keith Robertson, Adam David Symons, Jake William McDonough and Beau Andrew McDonald, have been charged with murder for carrying out the bashing as part of a “joint criminal enterprise”.

A seventh man, identified only by the court pseudonym of “SR”, is also on trial for murder after he allegedly “delivered” Mr Starkey to the service station around midnight on April 5, 2017, and afterwards drove him to Gosford Hospital.

James Crane, of Terrigal.

Pictures: Facebook

Mr Starkey was treated for severe head injuries before being flown to Royal North shore Hospital where he remained in a critical condition until he died on Monday, June 12, 2017.

The court heard Mr Starkey and SR attended the Mangrove Mountain Memorial Club two days earlier on April 5 where James Crane’s girlfriend was working behind the bar and Mr Starkey allegedly threatened her which “kicked the whole thing off”.

The three separate barristers for SR, Mr Robertson and Mr Symons all asked the jury to consider if their clients were going to inflict such serious grievous harm on someone that it could result in murder, why would they do it at a well illuminated service station with multiple CCTV cameras?

Clint Starkey, 42, of Mangrove Mountain, was allegedly bashed to death. Supplied

The court heard Mr Robertson and Mr Symons pleaded guilty to Mr Starkey’s manslaughter but the Crown would not accept their pleas.

Mr Symons’ barrister told the jury his client dragged Mr Starkey from the car and punched and kicked him but was acting in “self defence” because he believed Mr Starkey was armed with a shortened firearm.

Mr Robertson’s barrister said his client accepted he was there to confront Mr Starkey but never agreed to inflict serious injury on him.

The court heard four bullets were found in Mr Starkey’s pockets when he was brought to hospital but a gun was never recovered.

The trial continues.