A WOMAN who launched the brutal gang-bashing of James Callahan at Hamilton, stabbing the 22-year-old over a comment he made about littering, has pleaded guilty to murder, while five others accused of joining in have denied the charge.
Mr Callahan, a popular fisherman and environmentalist, was eating a meal after work about 2.15am on November 17, 2024, when he "simply made a comment to a group of people about littering", police have said.
He was then allegedly assaulted, followed down Beaumont Street and ambushed by a pack of people who shouted "smash him" and "kill him" as they stabbed, punched, kicked and struck him with a metal pole in a savage attack captured on CCTV.
After a lengthy investigation, detectives charged four men and three women over Mr Callahan's death.
And after significant delays, including while lawyers awaited an autopsy report and sought to "establish the legal liability of each co-accused", there was a major breakthrough on Wednesday as six of those charged entered pleas.
Alivia Briggs, 34, appeared in Newcastle Local Court via audio visual link from jail, where she pleaded guilty to murder over the death of Mr Callahan.
Five other people charged with murder - Ryan Sampson, Jason Talbot, George Fernando, Dianne Fernando and Frank Allen - all pleaded not guilty and will face a trial in NSW Supreme Court, likely in 2027.
All their matters were adjourned to Sydney Supreme Court on September 4 to set a sentence date for Briggs and trial dates for the others.
A seventh person, Teelah Cooper, is accused of assisting her boyfriend, Sampson, after the alleged murder by driving him away from the scene, selling the car and then fleeing to Queensland with him.
She did not enter a plea to being an accessory after the fact to murder and the matter was adjourned until next month.
The Newcastle Herald reported details of what detectives say led up to the alleged murder of Mr Callahan last year after Cooper applied for NSW Supreme Court bail.
According to court documents, Mr Callahan was sitting on the footpath outside a kebab shop about 2.15am when a car full of people drove past and one of them littered out the window.
Mr Callahan said something to the group and a woman, alleged to be Briggs, got out of the vehicle and walked towards him.
Another man, alleged to be 35-year-old Frank Allen, also got out and, without warning, allegedly kicked Mr Callahan in the face while he was still sitting on the ground.
This triggered a short scuffle on the road but the groups separated after a police car drove past.
Over the next 15 minutes, detectives allege those involved in the initial fight with Mr Callahan regrouped and carloads of people and others on foot followed him and his friend down Beaumont Street.
Mr Callahan and his mate were outside the Australia Post building when a man, alleged to be Jason Talbot, approached from behind as cars pulled up and people got out.
One man, alleged to be Allen, was armed with a metal pole, while Briggs allegedly had a knife.
Those in the group allegedly shouted "smash that c---sucker" as Briggs stepped forward and stabbed him in the chest.
Others allegedly threw punches, kicks and struck Mr Callahan with a metal pole as he desperately tried to defend himself.
The entire attack was captured on CCTV and mobile phone footage and, at one point, a male voice could be heard saying "kill him".
While this was happening, a third car pulled up and it is alleged that Ryan Sampson got out, sprinted towards the group armed with a knife and, while Mr Callahan was on the ground, repeatedly stabbed him in the back and neck.
Detectives say Mr Callahan was completely defenceless and suffering multiple stab wounds but the alleged attack continued.
The group then fled in three cars and Mr Callahan was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The group fled, but were arrested and charged over the following weeks and months.
