‘Out of time’: ex-Test spinner’s panic after coke deal

Stuart MacGill told his cause trader “I’m retired of time” hours earlier the ex-Test spinner was kidnapped implicit a $660,000 cocaine woody that went sour, a assemblage has heard.

The 54-year-old faced a assemblage trial connected Monday aft pleading not blameworthy to knowingly participating successful the supply of the prohibited cause successful April 2021.

A assemblage heard the illicit speech had been struck betwixt MacGill’s brother-in-law Marino Sotiropoulos and the erstwhile cricketer’s cause dealer, who tin legally lone beryllium referred to arsenic “Person A”.

While an archetypal woody went disconnected without a hitch, Person A determine to rip Mr Sotiropoulos’s associates disconnected days later, fleeing with $660,000 worth of cocaine, crown authoritative Gabrielle Steedman told Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court.

The trader exchanged the drugs for a vacuum-sealed container of A4 insubstantial concealed by $50 notes, earlier turning disconnected his telephone and deleting the encrypted app helium was using.

Threats started to travel successful demanding either the determination of Person A oregon the instrumentality of the money, starring to MacGill’s kidnapping aboriginal successful April, the assemblage heard.

“I’m retired of time, mate,” MacGill allegedly messaged his trader hours earlier helium was abducted.

“I don’t understand why you would deliberately bash this to me, I was conscionable trying to help.”

The erstwhile Test bowler was bundled into the backmost of a αυτοκίνητο by respective males and taken to an abandoned shed astatine Bringelly, successful Sydney’s west, where helium was assaulted, threatened and then released, the assemblage heard.

Six days aboriginal helium went to the constabulary and denied immoderate engagement successful the cause supply, Ms Steedman said, though helium admitted introducing Person A to Mr Sotiropoulos.

The ex-cricketer was a regular user of cocaine and bought the cause from Person A for years, usually successful half-gram quantities for $200, Ms Steedman said.

He was a trusted buyer, allowed to rack up $1000 successful cause debts and receiving costly bottles of intoxicant for his patronage, the assemblage heard.

In April 2021, MacGill was successful a de facto narration with Mr Sotiropoulos’s sister, Maria O’Meagher, with whom the ex-cricketer ran edifice Aristotle’s astatine Neutral Bay, connected Sydney’s northbound shore.

After complaining astir the prime of cocaine sold by Person A, MacGill said helium could hook the trader up with Mr Sotiropoulos, who sold “good gear”, Ms Steedman said.

Person A aboriginal brought $330,000 and Mr Sotiropoulos brought a one-kilo ceramic of cocaine and a wealth antagonistic to an arranged gathering successful the underground αυτοκίνητο parkland astatine Aristotle’s, the assemblage heard.

MacGill has lone been accused of mounting up the gathering and helium remained astatine the edifice while the duo travelled crossed the metropolis to Ashfield to implicit the deal.

“You’re a antheral of your word,” Person A texted the ex-spin bowler afterwards.

The trader offered MacGill a acquisition but yet wiped $1000 from his cause debts, prosecutors allege.

But defence barrister Thos Hodgson denied the 54-year-old was progressive successful the woody “in immoderate shape, mode oregon form”.

He said Macgill had not sought nor received immoderate payment by arranging for Mr Sotiropoulos to conscionable Person A.

The credibility of Person A, the cardinal crown witness successful the case, would beryllium of cardinal value successful the trial and jurors should beryllium very cautious when considering their evidence, Mr Hodgson said.

The trial continues.

Source: AAP