Outback Wrangler Matt Wright handed with WorkSafe brief of evidence over Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson’s fatal chopper crash
Two years after Territory dad and Outback Wrangler Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson was killed in a remote chopper crash, a reality television star has been handed the full brief of WorkSafe evidence against him.
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Celebrity croc wrestler Matt Wright has been presented with the full brief of evidence against him in a work safety prosecution over a fatal chopper crash.
The Outback Wrangler and his company Helibrook Pty Ltd, have been accused by NT WorkSafe of failing to comply with their health and safety duty, and reckless conduct risking death or injury.
In a hearing on Monday, Darwin judge Tanya Fong Lim heard the reality television star had received the full brief of the safety allegations against him.
It comes more than two years after a Northern Territory father-of-two and fellow reality television personality, Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson was killed while crocodile egg collecting through paperbark swamp at the King River, West Arnhem.
Mr Wilson was allegedly dangling 30m off the Robinson R44 on a sling line when the chopper went down in February 2022.
Mr Wilson was killed, while his 28-year-old pilot Seb Robinson was left in a critical condition.
NT WorkSafe has alleged Mr Wright engaged in conduct to falsify the number of flight hours accrued by the aircraft by interfering with the Hobbs meters, and not accurately recording flight times.
NT WorkSafe alleges this conduct would have impacted the regular inspection and replacement of the aircraft’s life-limited components.
Ms Fong Lim heard that following the brief of evidence, the legal parties would need at least six weeks to prepare, and adjourned the hearing to July 15.
If found guilty of all charges, the company faces a maximum combined penalty of $6m, while Mr Wright could face up to $1.2m in fines, five years in prison, or both.
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Originally published as Outback Wrangler Matt Wright handed with WorkSafe brief of evidence over Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson’s fatal chopper crash
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