Rebels Sgt-at-arms Adam Symons refused bail over Starkey murder

A REBELS bikie sergeant-at-arms charged with the bashing murder of a man at a petrol station on the Central Coast will remain behind bars after his solicitor did not apply for bail.

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A REBELS bikie sergeant-at-arms charged with the bashing murder of a man at a petrol station on the Central Coast will remain behind bars after his solicitor did not apply for bail.

Homicide detectives charged Adam David Symons, 36, late yesterday afternoon with the murder of Clint David Starkey, who died two months after he was brutally beaten at the Peats Ridge Caltex Service station on April 5 this year.

Dressed in a navy hooded jumper Mr Symons said nothing during his brief appearance at Gosford Local Court this morning where his solicitor sought brief orders but did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.

Clint Starkey’s injuries were so severe it was initially thought he had been bludgeoned with an axe.

Police will allege Starkey was lured by a friend to the service station where he was set upon by up to four bikies.

The victim’s so-called friend then allegedly helped clean up the crime scene before dropping Starkey at Gosford Hospital.

Mr Symons — who runs the Peninsula Chapter of the gang on the state’s Central Coast — was picked up yesterday during a vehicle stop on Woy Woy Road, Kariong.

He was taken to Gosford Police Station where he was charged with one count of murder.

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.

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

CCTV image of two men wanted over the attack released yesterday.

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

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 released by NSW Police showing the car Starkey arrived in as a passenger.

Detectives executed a further three search warrants on the Central Coast earlier today, where they seized further items relevant to the investigation.

Chief Insp Jubelin 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.

He would not be drawn on a motive other than a “dispute” between Rebels members and Starkey.

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

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

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.

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

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,” he said.

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

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

Investigations under Strike Force Bartondale are continuing, and further arrests are expected.