Upcoming trial for Outback Wrangler Matt Wright to take ‘three weeks at most’: Court

It was previously indicated Matt Wright’s upcoming trial would take up to eight-weeks and involve more than 120 witnesses. Find out what has changed.

The upcoming trial for Outback Wrangler Matt Wright will take “three weeks at most”, the Supreme Court has head. Picture: Jason Walls

The upcoming trial of Outback Wrangler Matt Wright will come down to a “number of critical witnesses”, with the expected length of the trial more than halved from what was previously indicated.

The Netflix star has pleaded not guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice following a helicopter crash that killed his friend and co-star Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson in February 2022.

Last year, it was indicated that a marathon eight-week jury trial was to occur with more than 120 witnesses expected to give evidence.

At a pre-trial hearing on Thursday morning, however, Mr Wright’s barrister David Edwardson told the Supreme Court in Darwin he was in the process of obtaining documents from the DPP which would “significantly reduce” the length of the trial.

Pilot Sebastian Robinson (L) with Chris 'Willow' Wilson.

Mr Edwardson said the documents in-question included the identification of witnesses that are to be called to the trial.

“I think I can safely say this – and that’s without having had any formal exchange with the director as to what witnesses are to be called – the trial is probably two to three weeks at most,” he said.

“And there are a lot of facts that can be agreed and really it will come down to a number of critical witnesses.

“The brief itself is thousands of pages long, but a very different case from when we first received it.”

The prosecution said a witness list and proposed agreed facts could be provided to Mr Edwardson by the “end of the month”.

Justice Alan Blow set another pre-trial hearing for June 2.

Originally published as Upcoming trial for Outback Wrangler Matt Wright to take ‘three weeks at most’: Court