Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson’s widow Dani Wilson fights to watch the trial of Outback Wrangler Matt Wright from the other side of the country
‘It’s all part of how courts run in the 21st Century’: The widow of a reality television star is fighting to watch the trial of Outback Wrangler Matt Wright from the other side of the country.
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The widow of a reality television star is seeking permission to watch the chopper conspiracy trial of Outback Wrangler Matt Wright from the other side of the country .
Mr Wright faces three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in the wake of the helicopter crash that killed his friend and co-star Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson in February 2022.
Mr Wilson was dangling from a chopper during a crocodile egg collecting mission over the King River in Arnhem Land, when the helicopter crashed into the paperbark swamp.
The 34-year-old father was killed, while his 28-year-old pilot Sebastian Robinson was left with critical injuries.
Mr Wright has been accused of trying to hide that he was not following the maintenance rules for his helicopters in the lead up to the fatal crash, and in doing so lied to police, pressured witnesses and attempted to destroy evidence.
The Territory celebrity has indicated he contests the charges against him.
Mr Wright’s trial was expected to start this week, but due to unforeseen circumstances it was delayed until the end of the month.
On Wednesday, Justice Alan Blow heard this scheduling delay meant Mr Wilson’s widow, Dani, would not be able to attend the high-profile trial in person.
Prosecutor Jason Gullaci said her young children were about to start the new school term in New South Wales, complicating Ms Wilson’s plans to watch the trial.
Defence counsel assisting Luke Officer said he largely supported the application, however had some concerns the jury would be confused by the video link.
However, Justice Blow said given the nature of modern courts, it was not unusual for video links to be offered to interested parties.
“It’s just a routine arrangement, as far as I’m concerned,” he said.
“It’s all part of how courts run in the 21st Century — things that we learned to do because of Covid.”
Justice Blow said a jury would be able to understand the need for a video link so that the mother-of-two “doesn’t need to come to Darwin to sit in the back of the court”.
Justice Blow did not make a decision on whether he would allow Ms Wilson to access a video link, saying “we’ll leave that in mid air” until the next pre-trial hearing on Tuesday, July 22.
After being given just weeks to be briefed on the high-profile case, Mr Gullaci said he was still finalising a witness list, agreed facts and an amended crown case.
Previously the court heard potentially 56 witnesses were being considered.
Both defence and prosecution said there was not expected to be any more delays to the trial which is expected to start on July 28.
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Originally published as Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson’s widow Dani Wilson fights to watch the trial of Outback Wrangler Matt Wright from the other side of the country
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