The Snitch: Bail review listed for Stuart MacGill stalking and abusive language case

A crook’s crisis of conscience has exposed one criminal defence lawyer’s dirty trick for stealing clients, the Snitch reveals.

Former Test spin bowler Stuart MacGill’s stalking and abusive language case will return to court a bit ahead of schedule this week.

At last mention, the leg-spinner wasn’t due to reappear until September, but his case has been listed on Friday in the Downing Centre for a bail review.

What does this mean?

Well, until we know if it was MacGill or the prosecution who has requested the review we’re only left to speculate. So let’s do that.

A bail review is set down for Stuart MacGill’s stalking and abusing language case. Picture: Channel 9

Those who know more about the legal system than Snitch tell us that it is not common for the prosecutors to request amendments to bail conditions, it’s usually the person who is subjected to them.

So let’s unpack what we know about MacGill’s situation.

MacGill, who was excused from appearing in court last month after being struck down with Covid, is charged with intimidation and using offensive language in relation to an alleged incident on February 1.

He and a friend are accused of abusing the friend’s ex outside a Millers Point home before starting up again outside a licensed venue on the same street.

As part of his bail conditions, MacGill has been ordered not to go within 100m of the woman or any prosecution witness.

He was also ordered not to go within two kilometres of Sydney Town Hall unless he is seeing his lawyers.

It is believed MacGill has been working at a Circular Quay bar. Picture: Instagram

When his case was last in court, MacGill’s lawyer was given a map showing the 2km radius that was “supplied to and signed by the accused”, court records said.

If you’re asking Snitch to guess, we’d say this could be the reason for the bail review.

In recent months, prior to his arrest, MacGill has been pictured working at a Circular Quay bar that is within that radius.

And the bail conditions would mean he can’t go to work.

POLICE POWERS

It’s no secret that police have more secret surveillance powers than they are letting on.

The worldwide AN0M sting is a great example of this.

Thousands were convinced they could organise all manner of illegal activity on supposedly encrypted phones, only to discover the cops had been monitoring the conversions.

The AN0M app was not as covert as its users might have hoped. Picture: AFP

Every now and then we get a hint as to what else the police have up their sleeve.

One such hint came from the case of Ezzeddine Omar, who is accused of hiding the getaway cars used in the alleged murder of Mejid Hamzy.

It’s common knowledge that police can tap phones and listen in to calls.

But one section of allegations in the police fact sheet tendered in his bail application gave a hint that police can go further into the phone in real time.

In the hours after Hamzy’s alleged murder on October 19, 2020, the fact sheet said Omar had driven to a dark and secluded rural property in Luddenham at 3.55am.

At the same time the fact sheet said the investigators were aware that Omar’s phone was “activated and the screen was unlocked”.

It looks like screen mirroring to Snitch.

SNEAKY LAWYER

We’re told a criminal defence lawyer tried to use a sneaky trick to steal clients from one of their competitors, only to get caught out.

In short, the trick goes as follows: The lawyer visits the prospective client in jail and convinces them to dump their old lawyer and employ them.

Then the crook has to write a letter to the judicial officer presiding over their case to say that they have “lost confidence” in their current lawyer.

However, our lawyer got caught out when the crook had a crisis of conscience and called his current lawyers to confess what he had done.

He also revealed that the sneaky lawyer had dictated exactly what to write in the letter.

The only bit he forgot to mention was that he sent the letter to the Supreme Court Judge.

So when the legitimate lawyers appeared in court for him a few days later, the judge wanted to know what was going on.

The situation was smoothed over and the trial listed to start.

However, we know the legitimate lawyer is famous for their ability to deliver a withering spray.

It appears the sneaky lawyer is also aware of this. He hung up immediately when the legitimate lawyer called and is yet to return the call.

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