A long-awaited verdict has been delivered for former Australian cricketer Stuart MacGill, who was accused of assisting in the supply of drugs. Although a prison sentence was initially considered, the 54-year-old former leg-spinner has avoided jail time.
After an eight-week delay, the court ruled that MacGill would not serve prison time. Instead, he has been sentenced to 22 months of intensive correction, which includes 495 hours of community service and mandatory regular drug testing as part of the alternative sentencing.
In March, a Sydney district court had already acquitted MacGill of major drug trafficking charges stemming from an incident in April 2021. The court concluded that while MacGill was aware of cocaine being supplied, he was unaware of the scale of the operation taking place at his own restaurant.
The case involved a deal to supply one kilogram of cocaine, valued at AUD 330,000, between MacGill’s brother-in-law and a regular drug supplier. MacGill admitted to facilitating a meeting between the two parties at his restaurant but claimed he had no knowledge of the drug deal itself. The court accepted this explanation.
However, prosecutors argued that such a deal couldn’t have happened without MacGill’s involvement. While direct involvement couldn’t be proven, the court acknowledged that MacGill played a role in the supply chain and therefore deserved a lesser penalty.
MacGill had previously spent time in jail in 2023 in connection with this case. The new sentence allows him to serve outside prison, under strict supervision.
UA / TDS
