Former Australian cricketer Stuart MacGill Proven Guilty in Cocaine Deal

One of the cricketing legends of the Australian cricket team Stuart MacGill has been found guilty of assisting a cocaine deal between his brother-in-law and a drug dealer, following an eight-day trial in the NSW District Court. The jury delivered its finding on Thursday, dismissing MacGill’s argument that he was simply the go-between connecting two parties in the deal.

He was found not guilty of taking part in the supply of a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug. However, he has been found guilty of the lesser charge for taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug. The recent verdict in Stuart MacGill’s ban has certainly surprised many, especially considering his celebrated career as one of Australia’s finest leg spinners.

History of MacGill’s case

The court was told MacGill, in April 2021, arranged a meeting between his brother-in-law, Marino Sotiropoulos, and a drug dealer at his Neutral Bay restaurant.

MacGill pleaded not guilty to all the allegations, maintaining his statement that he merely introduced the two men and he had no role in any subsequent drug deal.

But that MacGill was complicit in introducing the parties where a meeting was to take place to discuss the procurement of $330,000 for a kilogram of cocaine that was to be delivered, said the prosecution, what was prepared as evidence against MacGill was that he had been a regular customer of cocaine to Person A, and tried to help and arrange appointments for the meeting between the two people.

The Crown submitted that MacGill had acted as a go-between, arranging the meeting under the premises of Aristotle’s restaurant, which was co-owned by MacGill and his partner, Maria O’Meagher.MacGill’s defence told the court he was unaware of any drug exchange taking-place, and that he thought little of his brother-in-law, who was known for bragging about his drug connections.

The jury determined “that MacGill arranged the transaction” even though he wasn’t physically present at the drug handover, which took place in a park in Ashfield later that day. The guilty verdict has attracted a great deal of focus on the former cricketer’s off-field conduct, who once carved his niche as one of Australia’s finest leg spinners.

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