Two police officers charged with common assault after Tom Starling Central Coast bar brawl
Two police officers have been charged over the alleged assault of NRL star Tom Starling following a wild brawl on the Central Coast.
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Two police officers have been charged over the alleged assault of NRL star Tom Starling following a wild brawl on the Central Coast.
The charges come after the 25-year-old hooker was cleared of charges of assaulting and hindering police during the violent fracas, which left him with a bloody nose and grazes.
The Canberra Raiders playmaker, whose contract was extended in August until the end of 2025, is said to be “relieved” that police have been charged.
Following inquiries, officers from the Professional Standard Command charged a 49-year-old male senior constable and a 37-year-old male sergeant with common assault.
Their employment status remains under review and they will appear in Gosford Local Court on March 7.
Starling and his brothers Jackson, 27, and Josh, 22, were attending a friend’s 21st birthday party at Shady Palms hotel at Avoca Beach on December 5, 2020, when a fight broke out.
An 11-day hearing at Downing Centre Local Court in December 2022 heard the fight started after security guard Khan Morris told the Starling brothers’ mother Joanne to sit down because of Covid restrictions.
The charges of assaulting and hindering police against Tom Starling were quashed after CCTV footage was played in court, which showed the NRL player allegedly being repeatedly punched in the face.
In February, Magistrate Daniel Covington found Tom and Jackson not guilty of resisting police in the execution of their duty and Josh not guilty of two counts of assaulting police.
Josh was, however, found guilty of resisting police and assaulting security guard Mr Morris.
Mr Covington found while the offences were proven, he did not proceed to a conviction and instead put Josh on two 18-month good behaviour bonds.
Mr Morris has pleaded not guilty and will face a hearing later this year.
The Professional Standards Command has also been investigating the police response on the night, which this newspaper understands has led to two officers being charged.
When contacted the Starlings’ solicitor, leading Central Coast criminal lawyer Samar Singh-Panwar, confirmed he received advice the two police officers would be appearing at Gosford Local Court on March 7.
“My clients have been advised today, by NSW Professional Standards Command, that advice has been received from The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions,” Mr Singh-Panwar said.
“As a result of this advice, two police officers have been charged. One officer has been charged with common assault on both Tom and Jackson Starling. The other officer has been charged with common assault on Tom Starling.”
Mr Singh-Panwar said Tom Starling and his family were “relieved that police have finally been charged” and should no longer continue to face significant financial hardships from what happened.
“The Starling family hopes that the NSW Police now change their strict legal stance and agree to pay the Starling’s legal costs of the criminal proceedings,” he said.
Confirmation has been sought from the NSW Police Force.
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