The 50 people Matt Wright is unable to contact under his bail conditions

Outback Wrangler crew members, pilots, grieving family of Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson and the ‘Crocodile King’: Here’s who Matt Wright is barred from speaking to.

Matt Cunningham, Nathaniel Chambers and Zizi Averill

5 min read

December 3, 2022 - 10:11AM

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Outback Wrangler Matt Wright has been barred from contacting fellow TV crew members, pilots, major Top End business identities and grieving family members under new bail conditions.

The 43-year-old reality television star, who allegedly participated in a conspiracy to cover up evidence related to a fatal crash, had his bail conditions varied at Darwin Local Court on Wednesday.

Wright faces seven charges in relation to the helicopter crash that claimed the life of his friend, Chris “Willow” Wilson.

Under his bail conditions, Wright was ordered to not approach or contact 50 people directly or indirectly.

He will also have to pay the Northern Territory Government $20,000 if he doesn’t adhere to his bail conditions.

In March, Wright was a pallbearer at Mr Wilson’s funeral but under his bail he is banned from contacting the 34-year-old’s grieving wife Dani and parents Sharron and Robert ‘Bobcat’ Wilson.

Wright was also banned from contacting pilot Sebastian Robinson, who was seriously injured in the February 28 helicopter crash.

Fellow pilots Jai Tomlinson, Ty Richardson, Jock Purcell, Timothy Luck and Morgan Vidler have also been named in the non-contact order.

The court has previously heard Mr Luck and Mr Richardson were among the first to land at the crash site, alongside ‘Crocodile King’ Michael Burns.

Wright is also barred from contacting his own operations manager Tim Johnston but it is understood Mr Johnston’s wife supported Wright during his court appearance.

There is no allegation of wrongdoing against any of those named in the non-contact order, with the exception of alleged co-accused Neil Mellon and Michael Burbidge.

Wright was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, destroying evidence and fabricating evidence relating to the fatal chopper crash.

He was also charged with unlawfully entering a building and a dwelling, making a false declaration, and making threats in relation to a criminal investigation.

His lawyer, David Newey told a large press pack on Wednesday that Wright “strenuously” denied the charges and was “disappointed” the charges were laid over the fatal crash.

His case will return to court for a preliminary hearing on January 25.

Full list of names

CO-ACCUSED

Neil Mellon

Former Acting Senior Sergeant Neil Ryan Mellon. Picture: Justin Kennedy

One of the Territory’s most decorated police officers is facing 32 charges in relation to the alleged chopper crash conspiracy.

Former Acting Senior Sergeant Neil Ryan Mellon has been named as an alleged co-accused of Matt Wright and Michael Burbidge during the investigation into the fatal chopper crash.

Sgt Mellon was arrested while walking into a Darwin Police Station in August.

He has since left the NT Police, after 27 years with the force.

Michael Burbidge

Remote Helicopter pilot Michael Keith Burbidge leaves Darwin Local Court. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

The Remote Helicopters Australia director and chief pilot was allegedly in one of the three helicopters on the ill-fated crocodile egg collecting mission on February 28.

Burbidge has been named as an alleged co-accused of Wright and Mellon.

It has been alleged in court that Burbidge was one of the first at the horrific scene, finding Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson’s body and his seriously injured pilot Seb Robinson.

Burbidge was a pallbearer at Mr Wilson’s funeral, alongside Wright.

He has been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, destroying evidence, making a false declaration and fabricating evidence.

Other people named on the non-contact order with no allegations of wrongdoing

Jai Tomlinson

Black Cat Civil Founder Jai Tomlinson.

A commercial helicopter pilot and director of the earthmoving company, Black Cat Civil.

Sebastian Robinson

Sebastian Robinson was the pilot of the Robinson R44 when it went down over the King River on February 28.

Mr Robinson was the pilot of the Robinson R44 when it went down over the King River on February 28.

The young pilot suffered serious injuries in the crash, which also killed his friend Mr Wilson.

Mr Robinson was originally flown to Royal Darwin Hospital and was later transferred to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in a critical, but stable condition.

Mr Robinson gave a heartfelt hospital bed speech at Mr Wilson’s funeral, with the young man praising his fallen friend via a video call.

Ty Richardson

Chopper pilot Ty Richardson was on the same crocodile egg collecting mission that killed Mr Wilson.

Prosecutor Steve Ledek told Darwin Local Court that Mr Richardson was “inextricably linked to the events of that day”.

Mr Richardson has previously flown for North Australian Helicopters.

Jock Purcell

Helicopter pilot Jock Purcell was on Wright’s Wild Croc Territory series.

The Australian has alleged Mr Purcell was on the egg collecting mission, and was one of the first at the crash site.

Timothy Luck

The Darwin Local Court was told Timothy Luck was in one of the three choppers on the ill-fated egg-collecting trip, and one of the first to arrive at the crash.

Mr Ledek said Mr Luck was “inextricably linked to the events of that day”.

Morgan Vidler

Helicopter Pilot Morgan Vidler was the safety and operations manager at Wright’s Explore the Wild.

The Salt Air Aviation managing director was named as one of Australia’s youngest ever solo helicopter pilot, taking to the sky at 16-years-old, according to the Courier Mail.

According to The Uni Guide, Mr Vidler became friends with Wright while in training, which led to a job piloting scenic flights around the Top End.

Danielle Wilson

Danielle Wilson with Ted and Austin at Noonamah Rodeo 2022. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Mr Wilson’s wife, Danielle Wilson, has been named on Wright’s non-contact order.

Ms Wilson recently asked streaming giant Netflix, urging it to axe Wright’s highly-rating TV series Wild Croc Territory in the wake of charges against the show’s star.

Ms Wilson is also the mother of Mr Wilson’s two young boys, Ted and Austin.

Robert Wilson and Sharron Wilson

Sharon and Bob Wilson bear away the casket of their son Chris ’Willow’ Wilson at the Darwin Convention centre. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Mr Wilson’s father and mother have been named on Wright’s non-contact order.

At his son’s funeral in March Robert ‘Bobcat’ Wilson reminisced about his son’s first croc encounter, at just five-years-old in the Darwin Museum.

“He and his mate climbed over the barrier and set off the alarms by sitting on Sweetheart,” Mr Wilson said.

He said even then, he and Willow’s mother Sharon knew their greatest challenge would be keeping him safe without dampening his obvious adventurous spirit.

Michael Burns

The ‘crocodile king’ and Australia’s largest saltwater croc farmer Mick Burns.

The ‘crocodile king’ and Australia’s largest saltwater croc farmer Michael Burns is an alleged witness to the events directly after the fatal helicopter crash.

Darwin Local Court heard Mr Burns was at the crash site in February and was a witness to alleged events.

Mr Burns attended Mr Wilson’s funeral and stood alongside the 34-year-old father’s parents as they carried the casket from Darwin Convention Centre.

The Territory identity has worked as a police officer, helicopter pilot and a publican in the small NT town of Daly River.

Timothy Johnston

Wright’s operations manager.

James Apte

Cattle wrangler James ‘Jim’ Apte appeared on Wright’s show Wild Croc Territory.

Geoff Morton