Outback Wrangler Matt Wright vows to fight charge of perverting course of justice

Outback Wrangler Matt Wright has vowed to fight a criminal charge over a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice following the chopper crash that killed his best mate.

Celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright has vowed to defend himself against a criminal charge over the helicopter crash that killed his best mate, declaring the whole ordeal a “shit fight”.

Lawyers for Wright had been in discussions with prosecutors on how to avoid a full jury trial, but in NT’s Supreme Court on Thursday, they indicated ‘Wright would be fighting the single charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The charge relates to circumstances which allegedly took place in the aftermath of the crash in West Arnhem Land which claimed the life of Chris “Willow” Wilson — Mr Wright’s television co-star — and seriously injured pilot Sebastian Robinson.

Wright exclusively told The Daily Telegraph on Thursday: “Today I informed the court I will be pleading not guilty”.

“I’m committed to clearing my name and look forward to this happening and this shit fight being over so we can all move forward and be able to properly honour Willow’s legacy.”

Matt Wright, pictured with his wife Kaia and kids Banjo and Dusty, has vowed to fight the criminal charge. Picture: Charlie Bliss

The star of Netflix’s popular reality nature series Wild Croc Territory and National Geographic show Outback Wrangler opted not to attend the court proceedings, instead spending the day at home with his wife Kaia and children Banjo, five and Dusty, who will celebrate her second birthday in November.

The case has been adjourned until September 26 when a trial date will be set. No one has been charged over the actual crash in 2022 or Mr Wilson’s death.

Pilot Sebastian Robinson (left) was injured in the crash which killed Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson.

Wright and his pilot Michael Burbidge were allegedly first on the scene after the crash, accompanied by former senior NT police officer Neil Mellon.

The three men were all later charged over their alleged actions in the aftermath.

Burbidge was fined $15,000 after pleading guilty to destruction of evidence, for disposing of Mr Wilson’s phone.

Mellon was sentenced to eight months behind bars after pleading guilty to a string of offences, including destroying evidence and obtaining a benefit by deception and six counts of disclosing confidential information.

Charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice against both men were withdrawn.

Wright and Kaia outside Darwin Local Court last year. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

In its report on the crash the Australian Transport Safety Bureau found the helicopter was likely not refuelled at the en route fuel depot, which was about three quarters of the way between the departure location on the outskirts of Darwin and a clearing near King River where the helicopter and crew were to commence crocodile egg collecting.

The pilot did not identify the reducing fuel state before the helicopter’s engine stopped in flight due to fuel exhaustion, the ATSB report found.

Wright with daughter Dusty this week. Picture: Supplied

The ATSB found that Helibrook’s CASA-approved safety management system was not being used to systematically identify and manage operational hazards.

As a result, according to the report, the risks inherent in conducting human sling operations, such as carriage of the egg collector above a survivable fall height, were not adequately addressed.

The ATSB also found that the pilot’s exposure to cocaine within the previous few days increased the likelihood of fatigue, depression and inattention, however there was insufficient evidence to determine if these effects occurred.

The helicopter’s emergency locator transmitter had been removed from its mount prior to the accident, the report found, therefore, it could not activate automatically, which likely delayed the emergency response.

In his first sit-down interview since the fatal chopper crash in remote NT croc-infested swampland, an emotional Wright told the Telegraph in November last year that he had not properly grieved the loss of his mate, and had spent the last year with his “back to the wall” battling death threats, vandalism to his businesses and home, and “out of control rumours” that had deeply hurt his family.

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]