Bombshell cocaine revelation in Matt Wright fatal crash case raises ‘serious concerns’, star claims

Outback Wrangler Matt Wright says a bombshell toxicology report raises ‘serious questions’ about a police investigation into a fatal helicopter crash that killed his co-star Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson.

Matt Wright said it was ‘concerning that I appear to have been the major focus’ of an investigation into the fatal crash. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Celebrity croc wrangler Matt Wright says a toxicology report that detected “cocaine derivatives” in the blood of pilot Sebastian Robison raises “serious questions as to why I have been the main target of investigations” into a fatal helicopter crash last year.

Mr Robinson was piloting the Robinson R44 chopper when it crashed during an egg collecting trip in Arnhem Land in February, killing Wright’s Outback Wrangler co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson.

Wright was later charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, destroying and fabricating evidence, unlawful entry, making a false declaration and issuing threats in relation to a criminal investigation.

During a brief mention in the Darwin Local Court on Wednesday, Wright’s lawyers tendered a letter to prosecutors revealing the brief of evidence against him contained “a toxicology report of the pilot’s blood sample taken after the crash which records the detection of cocaine derivatives”.

“(The brief also includes) an interview with Mr Robinson where he was cautioned by the police that investigations concerned possible manslaughter charges and charges that persons were responsible for death and harm that resulted from the accident,” it reads.

In a statement issued after the proceeding was adjourned, Wright said if he had “any suspicion the externally contracted pilot” had been using drugs, “he would not have been allowed to fly”.

Matt Wright says it is ‘not fair or accurate’ to ‘lay the blame on me’ for his friend’s death. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“While not commenting on processes currently before the courts, this does also raise serious questions as to why I have been the main target of investigations, instead of the cause of the crash,” he said.

“With the rampant crime across the NT and the fact police have had access to this information for some time it’s concerning that I appear to have been the major focus.

“Nothing will bring Willow back, which will always be the worst part of this, but trying to lay blame on me is not fair or accurate.”

During the hearing, Wright’s barrister Giles O’Brien-Hartcher said his legal team was seeking particulars relating to the relevance of the toxicology report and the admissibility of reports into the crash by aviation authorities.

Mr O’Brien Hartcher said Wright’s lawyers would also be seeking court time for a two-day “contested committal” hearing relating to the sufficiency of the evidence.

“It relates to the sufficiency of the evidence on a number of charges but we need the particulars before we can give a fulsome outline of that,” he said.

Judge Alan Woodcock adjourned the case until May 31.