Former Australian cricketer Stuart MacGill has denied facilitating a drug deal, telling a Sydney court he only introduced his cocaine dealer to his partner’s brother, Marino Sotiropoulos, and had no further involvement.
According to ABC News, MacGill described Sotiropoulos as someone he “did not like in the slightest,” claiming he would visit his restaurant, Aristotle’s, and boast about being tough.
When Sotiropoulos wanted to meet the dealer, MacGill said he took the chance to get rid of him: “I saw an opportunity to palm him off onto someone else with a similar mindset.”
He insisted the introduction was brief: “As simply as this, I said ‘Marino, Person A. Person A, Marino’. They shook hands and I took off upstairs. We’re talking five seconds.”
After a failed drug transaction, MacGill testified that Sotiropoulos later confronted him, saying they were in “big trouble” because the dealer had stolen $660,000. MacGill said he dismissed him, replying: “…it’s got nothing to do with me.”
Fearing for his safety, MacGill attempted to hide before being abducted. He testified that one of his kidnappers implied he was armed and told him, “You know you’re in a lot of trouble.”
MacGill was held for several hours before being released. Six days later, he provided a statement to police denying any involvement in Person A’s drug dealing.
The trial continues.
Source: ABC News
