Abuse of woman in a pizza shop after dance party led to the ‘murder of promising footy player’

A PROMISING young footy player was stabbed to death after helping a woman outside a Central Coast pizza shop, a court has heard.

Bradley Brooks being led into a prison truck from the King St Courts in Sydney. Picture: Christian Gilles

A PROMISING young football player was trying to escort a frightened young woman to her car when he was stabbed in the heart and collapsed face down in the street outside a pizza shop, a Supreme Court jury has heard.

Wyong Roos player Greg Gibbins, 28, was fatally stabbed outside a pizza shop following a dance party at the nearby Beachcomber Hotel in Toukley on the Central Coast on April 5, 2015.

Another music festival-goer, Bradley James Brooks, 21, has pleaded not guilty to his murder and causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Gibbins’ friend Adam Swindell.

Bradley Brooks is accused of stabbing Greg Gibbins to death outside a pizza shop in April 2015. Picture: Christian Gilles

Crown Prosecutor Huw Baker told the court Gibbins, Swindell and another of their friends, Shaun Morabito left the Beachcomber Hotel just before midnight and were walking to a parked car nearby when they were approached by a young woman, Amber Pellizzon.

“Ms Pellizzon complained that she had been verbally abused by some young men standing outside the pizza shop. She asked if they would walk her past the shop,” Mr Baker said.

Mr Gibbins and Mr Swindell agreed to walk with her while Mr Morabito decided to wait nearby

Mr Baker said the Crown’s case would be that as the three walked past the pizza shop, a group of young men made comments to Ms Pellizzon who responded and became engaged in a “heated conversation” with the group.

Brooks and his brother Joel were allegedly with the group of men outside the shop.

“On the Crown case Joel Brooks walked up to Mr Swindell and stood very close, Mr Swindell said, “What are you doing? I have nothing to do with this.” Mr Baker said.

It is alleged Mr Swindell began to walk away but when Joel Brooks followed he pushed him.

“At this time Mr Gibbins was close to Mr Swindell, it is the Crown case that Bradley Brooks was standing by Joel Brooks then moved quickly towards the two men … Bradley Brooks pulled a knife from his pants and held it in his right hand. Mr Swindell began to run away, Bradley Brooks then stabbed Mr Gibbins in the chest,” Mr Baker said.

The jury heard Mr Gibbins stumbled towards the road way and fell face first on the ground.

He was taken to Gosford Hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.

Mr Baker said after Bradley Brooks allegedly stabbed Mr Gibbins he pursued Mr Swindell with his brother.

Mr Swindell ran to a grassed area next to the pizza shop and then turned to face his attackers.

It is alleged each brother stabbed Mr Swindell, who sustained a deep cut to his upper arm and under his arm pit.

Mr Baker said an autopsy of Mr Gibbins’ body revealed he had died from a single stab wound that broke through his rib into his heart.

“The degree of force required to inflict that injury was a moderate to a high degree,” he said.

The trial continues.

Originally published as Abuse of woman in a pizza shop after dance party led to the ‘murder of promising footy player’