A Sydney District Court jury on Thursday found former Australia spinner Stuart MacGill guilty on a reduced charge for being part of drug supply, but cleared him of involvement in a large-scale commercial drug transaction that occurred in April 2021.
Evidence presented showed that MacGill's regular drug supplier and his brother-in-law Marino Sotiropoulos had arranged an exchange of $330,000 for a kilogram of cocaine.
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While the former cricketer facilitated a meeting at his restaurant, he maintained he was not aware of any deal. But the prosecution contended that MacGill's prior knowledge was essential for the deal to have taken place.
The jury rejected the Crown's allegations regarding MacGill's involvement in a one-kilogram transaction, but nonetheless convicted him on a reduced charge related to participating in drug supply.
The court adjourned his sentencing proceedings for eight weeks.
MacGill played 44 Tests for Australia, taking 208 wickets. He was known for producing prodigious turn with his leg-spinners, but played in the same era that was dominated by leg-spin legend Shane Warne.
