The authorized workforce of former Aussie Take a look at cricketer Stuart MacGill has argued it made no sense for a jury to have discovered him responsible of facilitating a drug deal involving 250 grams or much less of cocaine when the embellished leg-spinner knew there was $330,000 concerned.
On Friday, MacGill, 55, sat within the Courtroom of Prison Attraction in Sydney as he seeks to have his conviction and sentence for drug provide overturned.
MacGill was final 12 months discovered responsible by a jury of serving to to arrange a drug deal between a person and a drug supplier beneath his Impartial Bay restaurant in April 2021.
Following a District Courtroom trial, a jury acquitted MacGill – who took 208 wickets in his Take a look at profession – of participating within the provide of a big industrial amount of a prohibited drug.
That cost pertains to transactions between 250g and 1kg.
He was discovered responsible of the lesser cost of participating within the provide of a prohibited drug – a cost that pertains to portions of 250g or much less.
The authorized workforce of former Aussie Take a look at cricketer Stuart MacGill has argued it made no sense for a jury to have discovered him responsible of facilitating a drug deal involving 250 grams or much less of cocaine when he knew there was $330,000 concerned
On Friday, MacGill, 55, sat within the Courtroom of Prison Attraction in Sydney as he seeks to have his conviction and sentence for drug provide overturned (pictured, enjoying in opposition to England on the MCG in 2002)
MacGill prevented a jail time period and was ordered by Decide Nicole Norman to serve a one 12 months and 10-month intensive corrections order.
He should additionally carry out 495 hours of group service.
The court docket was informed in the course of the trial that Individual A was MacGill’s drug supplier, from whom he often bought half a gram of cocaine for $200.
In the course of the trial, the Crown alleged Individual A and the person beforehand got here to an settlement to change $330,000 for 1kg of cocaine.
The court docket was informed MacGill had arrange a gathering between the pair beneath Aristotle’s restaurant, which the retired cricketer ran together with his associate Maria O’Meagher, who’s not accused of any wrongdoing.
MacGill mentioned in his proof he instantly left the assembly after introducing Individual A to the person – after which denied having a task with any drug deal.
However in keeping with the Crown case, MacGill acted as an middleman between the 2 males as they negotiated the drug deal.
The court docket was informed they mentioned what type the drug would are available in – both a powder or brick – in addition to the $330,000 worth.
MacGill was final 12 months discovered responsible by a jury of serving to to arrange a drug deal between a person and a drug supplier beneath his Impartial Bay restaurant in April 2021
MacGill made his Take a look at debut in 1998 in opposition to South Africa, and at his peak, saved Shane Warne out of Australia’s XI, such was the type of the leg-spinner (the cricketers are pictured collectively in 2005)
On Friday, MacGill’s barrister, Dominic Toomey SC, informed the Courtroom of Prison Attraction the jury couldn’t have discovered that the ex-Take a look at cricketer believed the drug deal concerned lower than 250g of cocaine.
In line with MacGill’s proof, Individual A offered cocaine for $200 for half a gram, which might equate to $400 a gram.
And if Individual A was shopping for 250g of cocaine from the person for $330,000, that may value $1320 per gram.
Toomey argued that may imply he could be shopping for the cocaine for 3.3 occasions the worth he was promoting for.
‘As a matter of logic, if the jury had been to just accept there had been a dialog between Mr MacGill and Individual A that the quantity to be paid –- for the quantity being provided – was $330,000, it couldn’t have been an quantity underneath 250g,’ Toomey informed the court docket.
Toomey added it ‘can’t sit logically’ that MacGill believed the deal was for $330,000 – but concerned an quantity of cocaine lower than 250g.
Crown prosecutor Elizabeth Nicholson argued on Friday it was ‘nicely open’ for the jury to make a discovering that MacGill took half in a drug deal for a ‘non-specific quantity’.
She mentioned Individual A’s proof, the place he solely spoke of the deal involving a ‘brick’, should have been accepted by the jury.
MacGill performed 44 Exams for Australia following his 1998 debut and took 208 wickets in a embellished profession
Decide Nicole Norman beforehand discovered MacGill performed an indispensable function organising the cocaine deal.
‘His function was important to deliver the events collectively and for the transaction to happen,’ she mentioned.
‘The offender’s colossal lapse of judgment has been causative of a really public fall from grace.’
Justices Anthony Payne, Belinda Rigg, Helen Roberts will hand down their resolution on MacGill’s attraction at a later date.
MacGill made his Take a look at debut in 1998 in opposition to South Africa, and at his peak, saved Shane Warne out of Australia’s XI, such was the type of the enigmatic leg-spinner.
Earlier this 12 months, MacGill generated additional headlines after podcast host Andrew ‘Menners’ Menczel recalled the appalling behaviour of South African supporters in 2018 in the direction of former Australian opener David Warner and his spouse Candice.
MacGill quickly snapped, earlier than delivering a sprig for the ages, the place he labelled Menczel a ‘moron’ and a ‘muppet.’
