Former Test cricket spinner seen out as he awaits cocaine sentence hearing
Fallen cricketer Stuart MacGill cut a jovial figure at a cafe near his Cremorne home as he awaits his sentence hearing — and potential jail — for supplying cocaine.
NSW
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Fallen cricket star Stuart MacGill was spotted having coffee in the rain as he makes the most of his final days on bail before his sentencing next week when he could be potentially jailed.
MacGill, 54, struck a jovial demeanour ensconced in deep conversation with a man taking notes on a sketch pad in a cafe near his home in Cremorne on the Lower North Shore on Wednesday morning.
The former test cricket spinner, who is currently awaiting sentencing for taking to part in the supply of cocaine in Sydney, refused to be drawn on his recent court battles and when approached by The Daily Telegraph and said only: “It’s over.”
As he left Crumbs coffee shop on Military Road, MacGill, who has a degree in viticulture and dates former restaurateur Maria O’Meagher, shook hands with his acquaintance and walked home to his three-bedroom apartment.
Ms O’Meagher, who also goes by the name Omeras, is still said to be supporting the sportsman despite being forced to shut down her Aristotle’s eatery in Neutral Bay when it was named in MacGill’s court case as a place where he allegedly facilitated a drug deal.
Mother of two Ms O’Meagher is now a chief operating officer at top city architects firm Genton’s and has been telling friends “he’s as handsome as ever.”
MacGill, considered one of Australia’s great modern spinners, is staring down the barrel of a potential 15-year jail term after he was found guilty of facilitating a cocaine deal in the underground car park of Aristotle’s.
Last month he was found guilty of introducing his dealer to Ms O’Meagher’s brother which is said to have led to a $330,000 deal.
The jury at Downing Centre District Court in Sydney found he had facilitated one count of taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug.
He was acquitted of the more serious charge of taking part in the supply of a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.
During the trial, the Crown alleged how he helped organise a drug deal between his brother-in-law Marino Sotiropoulos and a drug dealer, known as Person A, in which $330,000 was exchanged for one kilo of cocaine.
MacGill, who is divorced from former Neighbours star Rachel Friend, did not deny that he introduced Person A and Mr Sotiropoulos.
He labelled his partner’s brother as a “d***head” and “wannabe gangster” who would incessantly talk about drugs, the court heard.
But MacGill told the court he had never seen his brother-in-law with drugs or money.
Also, MacGill admitted he was a regular recreational cocaine user and would several times a week buy half a gram from Person A for $200.
MacGill told the court he wanted to “palm off” his brother in law to someone else and offered to introduce Mr Sotiropoulos to his dealer.
“You know I can honestly tell you I have no idea what I expected, I was just trying to share the pain,” Mr MacGill said.
The trial heard that MacGill had passed on Person A’s number to several of his friends.
It emerged in court Person A picked up MacGill from his apartment and drove him to Aristotle’s.
MacGill said he was only there for a few moments, saying “Marino, Person A. Person A, Marino” before walking upstairs.
They negotiated a drug deal and the exchange took place in Ashfield.
MacGill denied having any knowledge of any drug deal.
The court heard that Person A was involved in two more drug deals with Mr Sotiropoulos.
And on a third occasion, Person A conned the suppliers by paying with a vacuum-sealed block of A4 paper with $50 notes on the outside before taking 2 kgs of cocaine, which he later sold.
That led to MacGill allegedly being kidnapped and taken to a derelict shed at Bringelly.
MacGill has remained on bail before he faces a sentence hearing in May.
He will be sentenced at a later date.
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