Former Test cricketer Stuart MacGill allegedly kidnapped

[Axe Man]

Can someone please explain what the hell is going on here? The whole story makes no sense!

Former Test cricketer Stuart MacGill allegedly kidnapped

Four men have been arrested after former Australian Test cricketer Stuart MacGill was allegedly kidnapped and held for ransom.

Police said in a statement that the 50-year-old was approached by a 46-year-old man at Cremorne on Sydney’s Lower North Shore on April 14 about 8pm.

He was then allegedly forced into a car by the man and two other men before being driven to a property at Bringelly in Sydney’s west where he was threatened with a gun.

Police say MacGill was held for an hour before being driven to nearby Belmore in the southwest and dumped.

He is believed to have been badly hurt before being released.

MacGill had been working at Greek restaurant Aristotle’s in Neutral Bay with his current partner before the alleged kidnapping.

The incident was reported to police six days later on April 20.

Four men, aged 27, 29, 42 and 46, were arrested during early morning raids across Sydney this morning and taken to local police stations for questioning.

Detectives are currently searching homes at Sutherland, Caringbah, Brighton Le-Sands, Banksia and Marrickville.

The 50-year-old played 44 Test matches for Australia and three One Day Internationals.

As a leg-spinner, he was the successor to Australia’s greatest ever wicket-taker Shane Warne and took 208 test wickets.

MacGill grew up in Perth and began playing professional cricket for Western Australia in 1993. He moved to Sydney to progress his career and was a mainstay in the New South Wales cricket side from 1996 to 2008.

In 2014, he split with former Neighbours actor Rachel Friend. The former couple share two children.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Former Test cricketer Stuart MacGill allegedly kidnapped

Interesting. I hope he’s ok.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Former Test cricketer Stuart MacGill allegedly kidnapped

People watch too many movies. How can they think they will ever get away with that kind of thing? The arm of the law is even longer today. Hope Stew is ok.

[Axe Man]

Re: Former Test cricketer Stuart MacGill allegedly kidnapped

People watch too many movies. How can they think they will ever get away with that kind of thing? The arm of the law is even longer today. Hope Stew is ok.

There has to be way more to this story. If you are going to kidnap a wealthy person for ransom I doubt Stuart McGill even makes the shortlist. Why give up after only one hour? Why did he not report it to police for 6 days? Something fishy going on here.

[jeemak]

Re: Former Test cricketer Stuart MacGill allegedly kidnapped

New Idea are going to eat this story up.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: Former Test cricketer Stuart MacGill allegedly kidnapped

Latest update is Stuart's partner's brother has been arrested.

[Axe Man]

Re: Former Test cricketer Stuart MacGill allegedly kidnapped

Cricketer Stuart MacGill allegedly ‘betrayed’ by someone he knew

Australian Test cricket great Stuart MacGill did not inform police for a week after he was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint for ransom because he felt “threatened and scared”.

A NSW Police press conference about MacGill’s ordeal has heard the legendary spin bowler was “quite scared about going to police at all” after allegedly being abducted and beaten.

Police allege MacGill was forced into a vehicle at Cremorne, on Sydney’s Lower North Shore on April 14 and taken to a property where he was assaulted and threatened with a firearm.

He was then driven to Belmore in Sydney’s southwest and released after an hour.

MacGill did not report the incident until April 20 because he felt threatened.

Police allege the motive was financial, but no money was exchanged.

In a press conference today, Detective Acting Superintendent Anthony Holton was asked if it was random or MacGill knew the man who allegedly confronted him on the street.

“I would be saying it was a personal relationship,” he replied.

He was then asked: “He’s essentially been betrayed by someone that he knew?”

“Yes,” Supt Holton said.

Four men, aged 27, 29, 42 and 46 years old will appear in court this afternoon charged over the alleged kidnapping plot.

It is alleged one of the men charged - Marino Sotiropoulos, 46, - is the brother of MacGill’s recent partner Maria O’Meagher.

Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives arrested the men about 6am on Wednesday, three weeks after the alleged kidnapping near MacGill’s Sydney home.

Police allege it occurred about 8pm on April 14, when MacGill was confronted by the 46-year-old accused near the intersection of Parraween and Winne streets in Cremorne.

A short time later the pair were approached by two other men, allegedly forcing MacGill into a vehicle.

He was then allegedly driven to a property at Bringelly, where the two men, plus another unknown man, allegedly assaulted him and threatened him with a firearm.

About an hour later, police claim MacGill was driven to Belmore and released, according to police.

After MacGill notified police, Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives formed Strike Force Cain.

They conducted extensive investigations, with assistance from Raptor Squad and the Public Order and Riot Squad.

Officers are executed search warrants on Wednesday morning at homes at Sutherland, Caringbah, Brighton Le-Sands, Banksia and Marrickville.

MacGill represented Australia in 44 Test matches between 1998 and 2008, serving as Shane Warne’s understudy for most of his international career.

He claimed 208 Test wickets at an average of 29.03, including 12 five-wicket hauls.

Only three leg-spin bowlers have taken more Test wickets for Australia – Richie Benaud, Clarrie Grimmett and Warne.

MacGill took 328 Sheffield Shield wickets for New South Wales, placing him equal third on the all-time list behind Geoff Lawson and Greg Matthews.

He announced his retirement from international cricket in 2008.