A security officer has denied calling NRL player Tom Starling's mother a derogatory term before a brawl broke out at a New South Wales Central Coast bar.
The security guard gave evidence in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court today over a brawl at Kincumber's Shady Palms bar in December 2020.
CCTV was played to the court today of the moment that sparked the brawl which ended with police and riot squad officers attending.
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The footage shows Starling being dragged out of the venue by riot squad officers.He is punched repeatedly in the face while his friend Jesse Byrne is held down by police and cuffed.
The court was told Byrne was lying for minutes face down in broken glass.
Byrne and Starling were arrested along with Starling's brothers, Jackson and Josh, before being taken into police custody.
The group was released the next day.
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The four men have pleaded not guilty to several charges including assault and hindering police and resisting arrest.
Their lawyer told a hearing that questions should be raised about whether the police were executing their duties properly that night and whether the Starlings were acting in self-defence.
