‘Drugs, full stop’: Stuart MacGill grilled over alleged $330,000 cocaine deal

Stuart MacGill has denied facilitating a cocaine deal between his brother-in-law and a street-level dealer but revealed his reasons for introducing the pair to a jury.

Stuart MacGill says he was attempting to “palm off” his “d***head” brother-in-law onto a drug dealer when he introduced them but denies he was setting up a $330,000 cocaine deal, a court has been told.

The former Test cricketing great is standing trial in the NSW District Court, accused of having facilitated a drug deal between his partner’s brother, Marino Sotiropoulos, and a street-level dealer, who for legal reasons can be known only as Person A.

Mr MacGill has admitted he introduced and lined up a meeting between the pair underneath his Neutral Bay restaurant on April 8. 2021.

And when pressed in court about what similar interests he thought Mr Sotiropoulos and Person A had, Mr MacGill told the court: “Drugs, full stop”.

He has pleaded not guilty to one count of taking part in the supply of a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and he on Friday told the jury that he denied having any knowledge or involvement in any alleged cocaine deal.

The Crown alleges he helped set up a meeting in the underground car park beneath his restaurant, Aristotle’s, during which an agreement was made between Person A and Mr Sotiropoulos for $330,000 to be exchanged for 1kg of cocaine.

However, he told the court he was only briefly present to introduce the pair, saying “Marino, Person A. Person A, Marino”, before leaving to get to work.

Stuart MacGill has denied facilitating a $330,000 drug deal. Picture: NewsWire/Nikki Short.

The court has been told that the exchange later took part in a park at Ashfield. Mr MacGill is not alleged to have been present.

The court has heard that Person A was Mr MacGill’s regular drug dealer for around three years from 2018 to 2021.

Under cross examination on Friday, Mr MacGill told the court that at the time he was buying on average $400-$600 of cocaine – and as much as $600-$800 – per week from Person A.

However he denied he was an addict, the court heard.

Mr MacGill has told the court that he thought Mr Sotiropoulos was a “d***head” who would sit at the bar of his restaurant and talk about drugs.

“Tell me what (Mr Sotiropoulos) would say about drugs?” Crown prosecutor Gabrielle Steedman asked.

“It was absolute waffle,” Mr MacGill said.

“It was almost like he was regurgitating TV shows he had seen. I always thought he was a wannabe.”

Mr MacGill said that Mr Sotiropoulos talked about being “hard” but he “never saw him with drugs and he never had any money.”

He said he would complain to Person A about Mr Sotiropoulos and later offered to introduce the pair.

Mr MacGill said his intention was to “palm off” his brother-in-law so the drug dealer could “take him off my hands”.

He is fighting the allegation in the NSW District Court. Picture: Christian Gilles/NewsWire.

He was pressed by Ms Steedman about what “similar interests” Mr Sotiropoulos had with Person A.

Ms Steedman: “What was similar about Marino’s interest that aligned with Person A in your mind?”

Mr MacGill: “Drugs.”

Ms Steedman: “What about them?”

Mr MacGill: “Drugs, full stop.”

Ms Steedman: “That they were interested in talking about drugs?”

Mr MacGill: “Drugs, full stop.”

Ms Steedman: “You’re just making up a reason why you introduced Marino to Person A.”

Mr MacGill: “I’m not actually.”

When asked if he introduced Mr Sotiropoulos to Person A for the purpose of a large scale drug supply, Mr MacGill said: “That’s not right at all.”

“I introduced them,” Mr MacGill said.

“I didn’t facilitate any drug supply. I was not aware of any drug supply.”

Mr MacGill says he did not receive any money from any alleged drug deal. Picture: Christian Gilles/NewsWire.

There were some tense moments during Mr MacGill’s cross-examination as he was questioned about whether he derived any benefit from the alleged drug deal.

Mr MacGill maintained he didn’t receive a cent.

“Would you have expected to have benefited from a drug transaction?” Ms Steedman asked.

“I wasn’t involved in a drug transaction,” Mr MacGill said.

“But even if you just simply introduced them?” Ms Steedman asked.

“That’s a ridiculous question and I might ask the same of you,” Mr MacGill replied.

That prompted Judge Nicole Noman to interject.

Mr MacGill promptly apologised, saying: “Sorry, I apologise, I know that’s out of order, I’m very sorry.”

The court has been told that it is alleged that Person A and Mr Sotiropoulos took part in two further drug transactions.

The court has been told that on the third occasion, Person A ripped off the other group by paying with a vacuum-sealed block of A4 paper with $50 notes on the outside so as to appear like a $660,000 block of money.

That incident is said to have led to Mr MacGill’s alleged kidnapping, with the ex-cricketer telling the court he was taken to an abandoned house in Bringelly where he was stripped naked, assaulted and demands were made for him to compensate the drug dealers.

After his release, he went into hiding for a week before going to police at Chatswood station.

He told the court on Friday that despite being injured, he did not seek medical attention.

“Is there a reason?” Ms Steedman asked.

“I’m pretty tough,” Mr MacGill said.

Stuart MacGill while working with the English team in 2017. Photo: by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.

The Crown has alleged that around April 2021, Mr MacGill complained to Person A about the quality of his product.

It has been further alleged that Mr MacGill told Person A that Mr Sotiropoulos could get “good quality cocaine”, the court was previously told.

Mr MacGill denied that claim during his evidence as he said he played no part in brokering any alleged deal or acting as a go-between between Person A and Mr Sotiropoulos.

“I simply introduced them,” Mr MacGill said.

Mr MacGill also denied that he stood behind Person A and Mr Sotiropoulos within earshot during the meeting.

“I was not. I was there for a matter of seconds,” Mr MacGill said.

The trial will conclude on Monday with closing submissions from both the defence and prosecution, with the jury to then retire to consider its verdict.

Originally published as ‘Drugs, full stop’: Stuart MacGill grilled over alleged $330,000 cocaine deal