Outback Wrangler Matt Wright to grill witnesses after Sebastian Robinson’s texts, emails disclosed

Matt Wright’s lawyer has asked a Darwin judge not to ‘drop the guillotine’ on his client in a bid to cross examine two witnesses to a chopper crash that killed his mate Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson.

Netflix star and croc wrangler Matt Wright will seek to grill two witnesses in court following the release of emails and texts from a chopper crash survivor.

Legal representatives for the Outback Wrangler star, ex-top NT cop Neil Mellon, and Remote Helicopters Australia owner Michael Burbidge appeared before Darwin Local Court judge Tanya Fong Lim on Monday.

The trio are accused of conspiring to destroy and tamper with evidence in the wake of a chopper crash that killed Wright’s co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson last year.

Helicopter pilot Michael Burbidge, former police officer Neil Mellon, and Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright.

Mr Wilson was part of a six-man team on a crocodile egg collecting mission over the King River in West Arnhem land when they crashed into a paperbark swamp on February 28.

The crash also seriously injured 28-year-old pilot Sebastian Robinson.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Mr Robinson.

Pilot Sebastian Robinson, left, with 34-year-old Chris 'Willow' Wilson.

But during a case management hearing on Monday, Wright’s lawyer Giles O‘Brien-Hartcher said he was seeking to cross examine two witnesses after messages from the crash survivor were revealed.

Mr O‘Brien-Hartcher said the new request — nine month after his client first faced court on the conspiracy charges — came after the recent disclosure of an affidavit from an NT Police officer.

“Before your honour drops the guillotine … the material has only disclosed just last week,” Mr O‘Brien-Hartcher said.

“It attaches the text messages (and emails) from Sebastian Robinson to a whole bunch of people.”

He said based on these messages, Wright was seeking to cross examine two people as part of his case.

Croc egg collector Chris Wilson was killed, while pilot Sebastian Robinson was critically injured in a helicopter crash on the King River in 2022.

Mr O‘Brien-Hartcher said before the disclosure of the police officer’s statement, there was no intention to cross examine any witnesses.

Ms Fong Lim gave Wright’s legal team until October 2 to file a motion to cross examine the two witnesses.

A preliminary examination mention was adjourned to November 20, with the defendants excused from attending.

All three men have indicated they would argue there was insufficient evidence to send the case to the Supreme Court.

Michael Burbidge, left, and Matt Wright were also accused of fabricating evidence, while the Netflix star was also slapped with charges over two alleged unlawful entries and threatening witnesses during a court process

Wright, Mellon and Burbidge were each charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, destroying evidence and making a false declaration.

Burbidge and Wright are also accused of fabricating evidence, while the Netflix star was also slapped with charges over two alleged unlawful entries and threatening witnesses during a court process.

Mellon also faces charges of disclosure of confidential information, unlawfully accessing data and obtaining benefit by deception, as well as stealing, firearms, controlled animal possession and fireworks charges.

All three are yet to enter pleas to the charges.