Stuart MacGill loses appeal against cocaine conviction

[p]The 55-year-old retired leg-spinner was found guilty in 2025 of taking part in the supply of the drug.[/p][p]He was spared jail and sentenced to an "intensive corrections order" of one year and 10 months that included 495 hours of community service.[/p][p]MacGill's appeals on conviction and sentence were both dismissed by the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal.[/p][p]MacGill was found guilty last year after a court heard he had introduced his personal dealer to another drug supplier and that the pair went on to organise a AU$330,000 (US$200,000) drug deal.[/p][p]MacGill claimed he knew nothing about the subsequent deal.[/p][p]In his appeal, MacGill said the judge had erred in allowing evidence about him having introduced other acquaintances to his dealer for small cocaine purchases.[/p][p]But the appeals court found this evidence was relevant to rebut MacGill's claim that he had "nothing to do" with his personal dealer's drug activities.[/p][p]It also dismissed his submission that the jury had been misdirected by the judge.[/p][p]MacGill played 44 Tests for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/OxG0JfXg/"]Australia[/a] between 1998 and 2008.[/p][p]He may have made many more international appearances had his career not coincided with that of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/warne-shane/v5Rfk3zI/"]Shane Warne[/a], widely recognised as the best leg-spin bowler of all time.[/p]