Former Australian Test cricket star Stuart MacGill has been spared a potential life sentence over his role in a $330,000 cocaine deal that led to his violent kidnapping.
Share and Follow

Former Australian Test cricket star Stuart MacGill might still be jailed, but he has been spared a potential life sentence over his role in a $330,000 cocaine deal that led to his violent kidnapping.

The former leg spinner, whose post-cricket life has been marred by regular cocaine use, was acquitted on Thursday of taking part in a large commercial drug supply that began under his restaurant in April 2021.

But the Sydney District Court jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict to a lesser charge of drug supply.

Former Australian Test cricket star Stuart MacGill has been spared a potential life sentence over his role in a $330,000 cocaine deal that led to his violent kidnapping.
Former Australian Test cricket star Stuart MacGill has been spared a potential life sentence over his role in a $330,000 cocaine deal that led to his violent kidnapping. (AAP)

They found MacGill knew the cocaine deal between his regular dealer and his brother-in-law was taking place but was oblivious a one-kilogram brick was changing hands.

MacGill, 54, showed little emotion as the verdicts were read.

The man whose 44-Test career came in the shadow of cricketing great Shane Warne remained tight-lipped as he left court surrounded by cameras and reporters.

The jury heard the illicit exchange of $330,000 for a kilogram of cocaine was struck between a dealer known as Person A and Marino Sotiropoulos, the brother of MacGill’s partner.

The jury heard the ex-cricketer was a regular user of cocaine and bought the drug from Person A for years, usually in half-gram quantities for $200.

He was a trusted buyer, allowed to rack up $1000 in drug debts and receiving expensive bottles of alcohol for his patronage, the jury heard.

MacGill remains on bail until a sentence hearing on May 9.
MacGill remains on bail until a sentence hearing on May 9. (Steven Markham/AAP PHOTOS)

While an initial deal went off without a hitch, Person A decided to rip Sotiropoulos’ associates off days later, fleeing with cocaine worth $660,000, Crown prosecutor Gabrielle Steedman told the jury.

The dealer exchanged the drugs for a vacuum-sealed bag of A4 paper concealed by $50 notes, before turning off his phone and deleting the encrypted app he was using.

Threats started to come in demanding the location of Person A or the return of the money, leading to MacGill’s kidnapping later in April.

The former Test bowler was bundled into the back of a car by several men and taken to an abandoned shed at Bringelly, in Sydney’s west, where he was assaulted, threatened and released, the jury heard.

Six days later he went to police and denied involvement in the drug supply, Steedman said, although he admitted introducing Person A to Sotiropoulos.

MacGill retired in 2008 after claiming 208 Test scalps at an average of 29.02.
MacGill retired in 2008 after claiming 208 Test scalps at an average of 29.02. (Jason O’BRIEN/AAP PHOTOS)

While the cricketer denied knowing the one-kilogram deal was to take place, Steedman argued the deal could not have occurred without the prior involvement of MacGill, who she attacked as not an impressive witness.

MacGill had allegedly complained about the quality of the cocaine Person A was selling him and said his brother-in-law could get him “good gear” in a large quantity.

She also pointed to the dealer’s assertions MacGill was in the car park under the Sydney restaurant until the dealer and Sotiropoulos drove off in one car.

The exchange took place in the car as it drove across town.

MacGill was arrested in 2023.

Defence barrister Thos Hodgson attacked Person A as prone to dishonesty and motivated to get a lower sentence for his own drug supply conviction by implicating MacGill.

MacGill’s prior sharing of his dealer’s number with other users – which the Crown claimed showed a tendency to get involved in a larger deal – was also dismissed.

“It would not be unusual for people who consume cocaine together … to say ‘where do you get your cocaine?'” Hodgson said in his closing address.

MacGill, who retired in 2008 after claiming 208 Test scalps at an average of 29.02, remains on bail until a sentence hearing on May 9.

He has flagged he will seek legal costs.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Receives Prison Sentence Exceeding Four Years

Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced on Friday to more than four years…
Trump's ominous warning as he sets Sunday deadline for Hamas on Gaza deal

Trump Issues Stark Ultimatum with Sunday Deadline for Hamas in Gaza Agreement

“An Agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX…
Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue

One Manchester Synagogue Attack Victim Could Have Died from Police Gunfire

One of the two men killed in a car and knife attack…

Latest Updates on Donald Trump’s Approach to the Gaza Deal as Deadline Nears

A deadline for Hamas to accept a peace plan laid out by…

Tragic Helicopter Crash in Sydney: One Fatality and Teen Severely Injured

The crash occurred at Bankstown in Sydney’s south-west about 1.30pm on Friday.
A man being wanded by police in a pokies room.

Police Discover Large Knife Hidden in Man’s Pants at Gaming Room

A man has been charged after he was found with a large…

Concerns Arise About Detained Australians Amid Protests Following Interception of Gaza Flotilla

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is seeking to confirm…
At the AFR Asia Summit Andrew Hastie, Shadow Minister for Defence, talks at the summit in Melbourne

Leading Politicians Respond to Andrew Hastie’s Departure from Liberal Front Bench

Sussan Ley’s leadership of the Liberal Party has been rocked by Andrew…