Cricket legend Stuart MacGill spent years shopping for cocaine earlier than taking part in a task in an enormous drug deal, court docket hears

Former Take a look at spin bowler Stuart MacGill is going through a jury trial over his alleged function in a significant cocaine deal that led to him later being kidnapped and overwhelmed.

The 53-year-old appeared at Sydney’s Downing Centre District Courtroom on Tuesday after he pleaded not responsible to 1 rely of collaborating within the provide of a prohibited drug.

MacGill is alleged to have facilitated the provision of 1 kilogram of cocaine within the suburb of Impartial Bay, on Sydney’s decrease north shore, on or round April 8, 2021.

Crown prosecutor Gabrielle Steedman instructed the jury MacGill was an everyday cocaine person on the time of the incident and would usually purchase the drug from an affiliate, who might solely be known as ‘Particular person A’ in the course of the trial.

The previous sportsman allegedly launched Particular person A to his brother-in-law, Marino Sotiropoulos, for the aim of supplying the drug vendor with a kilogram of cocaine for $330,000.

MacGill had been in a defacto relationship with Sotiropoulos’s sister, Maria O’Meagher, with whom the ex-cricketer ran the Aristotle’s restaurant in Impartial Bay, the jury was instructed.

MacGill (pictured taking part in for Australia in opposition to England in 2002) had an excellent relationship with a cocaine vendor who allowed him to rack up drug money owed, a court docket has been instructed

MacGill had allegedly been shopping for cocaine from Particular person A for a number of years, normally in half-gram portions for $200.

There was a trusted relationship between the pair and MacGill was allowed to rack up drug money owed of round $1000, the court docket was instructed.

On one event, he allegedly complained in regards to the high quality of the cocaine Particular person A was promoting him and mentioned his brother-in-law might get higher medicine in a big amount.

Ms Steedman instructed the jury the cost in opposition to MacGill solely associated to him establishing a gathering between the pair for the cocaine to be exchanged.

‘The accused facilitated the assembly in order that Particular person A might be provided with cocaine,’ she mentioned.

Following the preliminary deal, Particular person A allegedly determined to arrange one other through which he would rip off the suppliers through the use of a pretend bundle of money.

However as soon as it turned obvious that they had been ripped off, the suppliers allegedly focused MacGill of their seek for Particular person A.

There was no dispute MacGill was kidnapped by a number of males on 14 April, 2021, and pushed to a distant location, the place he was stripped and overwhelmed, the jury heard.

MacGill (pictured proper with cricket legend Shane Warne in 2005) was kidnapped by a number of males in April 2021 when the alleged drug deal turned bitter

The 53-year-old (pictured final 12 months) allegedly complained in regards to the high quality of the cocaine he’d spent years shopping for

He was launched after a number of hours and 6 days later he went to police to report being kidnapped, the court docket was instructed.

Defence barrister Thos Hodgson mentioned MacGill maintained he merely launched Particular person A and Sotiropoulos and had no additional involvement in what occurred between them.

‘He had no information in any respect as to what the deal was going to be,’ he mentioned.

Mr Hodgson added the case would hinge on the proof of Particular person A and he requested the jury to fastidiously contemplate what they had been instructed.

The trial continues.