Ex-Test cricketer’s drug rip-off assailant apologises
Miklos Bolza |
A man once accused of kidnapping Stuart MacGill has apologised for beating the ex-Test spinner on a semi-rural property after a drug rip-off.
MacGill, whose career coincided with the Australian men’s team’s most successful era, was driven in April 2021 from his home on Sydney’s affluent lower north shore to a dilapidated shed on the city’s outskirts, where he was assaulted.
The men behind the assault that left MacGill with a cut lip faced a sentence hearing at the NSW District Court on Friday.
Brothers Frederick and Richard Schaaf, and Vaeluagaomatagi Feilo pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and stalking and intimidation, after the more serious charge of kidnapping was dropped during a plea deal struck in August.
Richard Schaaf’s barrister Thomas Woods said the 33-year-old had shown genuine remorse through a letter of apology handed to the court.
“He is sorry for the way he behaved,” he told Judge Phillip Mahony.
MacGill was a regular user of cocaine when he introduced his dealer to another man – who cannot be legally identified – in April 2021.
After an initial deal exchanging $330,000 for a one-kilogram brick of cocaine, the dealer then made off with two more bricks in a subsequent drug rip-off.
This led to the intimidation against the cricketer-turned-restaurateur as well as the assault in Bringelly, both of which occurred on April 14, 2021.
The judge heard that Richard played a larger role in physically beating up MacGill, followed by the 23-year-old Feilo.
Richard had now shown a greater level of responsibility, Mr Woods argued.
His likelihood of reoffending was “diminishing” and he had good chances of rehabilitation, the barrister said.
Feilo had not shown any remorse for his actions, Judge Mahoney was told.
But his barrister argued his client showed good prospects of rehabilitation because he had not reoffended while on bail.
The assault was short and MacGill’s injury was “relatively minor,” Rajiv Baldeo argued.
Frederick, now aged 31, did not lay any blows on the spin bowler.
His barrister dismissed prosecutor arguments that the crimes were more serious because they involved a degree of planning.
“‘Planning for what?” Winston Terracini SC asked.
“This is no longer the kidnapping of a former Test cricketer.”
Mr Terracini pointed the court to “sensationalised” news reporting on MacGill and the alleged kidnapping as extra punishment his client had copped.
However, crown prosecutor Andrew Isaacs said none of the three men were named in the reports where MacGill was questioned about the veracity of his claims that he was kidnapped.
They will be sentenced on October 30.
MacGill was found guilty of taking part in drug supply after a District Court trial.
He was placed on an intensive corrections order of one year and 10 months in May, requiring he complete 495 hours of community service and undertake drug testing, in lieu of a prison term.
Once viewed as one of the world’s top spin bowlers, the now-54-year-old is now on JobSeeker while working as a casual cricket coach.
He retired from cricket in 2008 after a career cruelled by being forced to play second-fiddle to the sport’s greatest legspinner, Shane Warne, two years his senior.
MacGilll played 44 Tests, claiming 208 wickets at an average of 29.02.
AAP
