Outback Wrangler Matt Wright faces sentencing for obstructing fatal helicopter crash investigation

A court hearing for Outback Wrangler Matt Wright has heard his celebrity status should not impact his sentence for lying to police and obstructing the investigation into a fatal helicopter crash.

Chris 'Willow' Wilson was killed when the helicopter under which he was suspended for the purpose of collecting crocodile eggs, crashed in the Northern Territory.

A sentencing hearing is underway in the Northern Territory Supreme Court for Outback Wrangler Matt Wright who was found guilty of lying to police and obstructing the investigation into a helicopter crash that killed friend and co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson.

Mr Wilson was suspended underneath the helicopter at the time of the crash on February 28, 2022, for the purpose of collecting crocodile eggs.

His widow Danielle Wilson is suing the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for allowing the practice, as well as Mr Wright and his now defunct company Helibrook.

Supreme Court acting judge Alan Blow heard that in the aftermath of the crash Mr Wright lied to police about whether the helicopter had fuel in the tank, but his dishonesty was motivated by “some degree of panic” and was not premeditated or planned.

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation found the likely cause of the crash was fuel exhaustion.

Crown prosecutor Jason Gullaci, SC, said the second offence of obstructing the investigation was significantly more serious, and took place over a ten day period in early March 2022.

“He could have reflected on what he was doing in that time but he didn’t,” Mr Gullaci said.

The obstruction related to Mr Wright’s request to injured pilot Sebastian Robinson to move a “few hours off the crash chopper to his personal helicopter” to hide the fact it had been due for a major maintenance overhaul.

During the trial, the court heard Mr Wright encouraged helicopter pilots to under report hours flown by disconnecting Hobbs meters in the aircraft.

The two charges carry a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment.

Mr Gullaci told the court in 21 of 28 cases in which offenders were found guilty of obstructing police investigations, a jail sentence was imposed.

Matt Wright with wife Kaia and their two children, Banjo and Dusty. Picture: Instagram

Defence lawyer Luke Officer for Mr Wright, stressed that the crash was a tragic accident, for which “responsibility fell at the feet of Mr Robinson” who is now a paraplegic.

He said Mr Wright was not responsible for the death of Mr Wilson, nor to the injuries to Mr Robinson.

“Mr Wright is not to be sentenced for the cause of the crash, he’s not to be sentenced because he’s Matt Wright, he’s not to be sentenced for his celebrity status,” said Mr Officer.

“The responsibility for this accident fell at the feet of Mr Robinson. He forgot to refuel, he was the pilot, he had been using cocaine.”

The court heard Mr Wright lied about there being fuel in the tank to “protect a mate” Mr Robinson, and was at the “lowest level of seriousness for this type of offending”.

“We maintain the second offence is also low level,” Mr Officer said.

“Our view is that the appropriate disposition would be a wholly suspended sentence, if not a community corrections order with a home detention condition.”

Mr Officer said the Crown took no issue that Mr Wright was a “person of exemplary character, with excellent prospect of rehabilitation”.

“You can be sure Mr Wright is not going to be coming before these courts again,” said Mr Officer.

“He is 46 years old, married to Kaia Wright, he has two children (and) Ms Wright is pregnant with her third child, due in April. He is a devoted father.”

Country music singer Lee Kernaghan provided a character reference for Matt Wright. Picture: Jonathan Ng

He continued, reading a character reference from country music star Lee Kernaghan who outlined Mr Wright’s charity work, particularly in the area of wildlife conservation.

“He’s a man of honesty, humility, strong leadership and courage, he has a strong love for his family, his community, and the outback,” read Mr Kernaghan’s reference.

The court heard Mr Wright had suffered significant financial hardship as a result of the helicopter crash and the subsequent case, and was “teetering on the edge of financial ruin”.

“He lost his AOC (aircraft operator certificate), and his pilot’s licence. It’s very unlikely he’ll get that back again,” Mr Officer said.

In reply Mr Gullaci said Mr Officer had presented a “diet Coke version” of the second charge against Mr Wright, saying the “characterisation was wrong, and contrary to the verdict”.

“It’s the lowest possible interpretation of the facts,” said Mr Gullaci.

“(He) was trying to stop an open and proper investigation of a fatal helicopter crash; that elevates (the seriousness).”

He acknowledged there were no threats made by Mr Wright and no pressure applied to update flight log books post-crash, but argued there “was a level of intimidation because of the celebrity status he held through his own hard work and success”.

“He was someone these younger men found to have an intimidating presence, he was someone they wanted to please,” Mr Gullaci said.

“Mr Wright’s decision to subvert the investigation was a breach of trust of the deceased, Mr Wilson and also (pilot) Sebastian Robinson. And why did he do it? Because he prioritised his own interests above that of a thorough and proper investigation.”

Justice Blow has adjourned the court until 3.30pm local time, while he considers his sentence.

More to come.

Originally published as Outback Wrangler Matt Wright faces sentencing for obstructing fatal helicopter crash investigation