Outback Wrangler Matt Wright varies bail to return to the Territory to manage tourism businesses

An Outback Wrangler star accused of taking part in a chopper crash conspiracy has returned to the NT to manage his businesses, while a judge has called proposed bail changes ‘feeble’ and an attempt to track him.

Outback Wrangler Matt Wright has returned to the Territory to run his tourism empire, despite a cloud of criminal charges hanging over the celebrity’s head.

A criminal investigation into the fatal chopper crash is expected to be complete days after the anniversary of a horror chopper crash that claimed the life of 34-year-old Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson.

Prosecutor Steve Ledek told Darwin Local Court the police probe into an alleged conspiracy to cover up elements surrounding the fatal crash would wrap up in early March.

Outback Wrangler star Wright was one of three men charged in relation to the alleged conspiracy surrounding Mr Wilson’s death.

Matt Wright after attending Darwin Local Court on charges linked to the death of his Outback Wrangler co-star Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson. Picture: Glenn Campbell

On Wednesday, Wright’s lawyer Giles O‘Brien-Hartcher fought for changes to his bail conditions allowing him to contact nine business associates, including the crocodile king Mick Burns, Wild Croc Territory pilot Jock Purcell and Black Cat Civil director and pilot Jai Thomlinson.

The court heard Wright landed in the Top End on January 30 to prepare for the Top End dry season tourism boom, while his wife and children remained in Queensland.

Mr Ledek said the reality television star was a “hands on operator” across his multiple tourism and adventure businesses.

“He directs and controls those who are employed with him and for him,” Mr Ledek said.

Judge Richard Wallace removed nine people from Wright’s non-contact order who were deemed as essential to his business.

The court heard Wright landed in the Top End on January 30 in order to prepare for the Top End dry season tourism boom, while his wife and children remained in Queensland.

The 43-year-old is now able to contact chopper pilot Ty Richardson, who was on the same crocodile egg collecting mission that killed Mr Wilson, aircraft engineers Cole Darley and Nathan Bolton and Sandpalms Roadhouse owner Tommy Abdoo.

Wright will have to wait until March 9 to contact Mick Burns, Daniel Pattinson and three chopper pilots Jock Purcell, Morgan Vidler and Jai Tomlinson.

There are no allegations of wrongdoing against any of the nine men removed from Wright’s non-contact list.

The remaining 39 people named on the non-contact orders will be reassessed at his upcoming preliminary examination mention.

With Wright returning to the Territory, police fought to impose strict new conditions on his bail.

But Mr Wallace dismissed the “feeble” attempt by the prosecution to order the Outback Wrangler to wear an electronic monitoring device until the end of the police investigation.

The helicopter carrying Chris 'Willow' Wilson crashed in remote West Arnhem Land in February, 2022.

Mr Ledek argued that given the serious charges alleging the interference with witnesses and evidence tampering, the ankle monitoring device was needed to protect the “sanctity” of the evidence and to prove any potential breach of bail.

“The protection of the interference of witnesses goes to the heart of the allegation that we’re prosecuting in the first instance,” Mr Ledek said.

Mr Ledek said the ankle monitor was not necessary while Wright was living in Queensland but now that he was back in the Territory there was an increased risk he could bump into witnesses.

“They include a number of industry professionals, engineers and service technicians, tourism operators, who don’t have a direct connection to Mr Wright, but operate in the same circles,” Mr Ledek said.

Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson was killed in a helicopter crash in a remote part of West Arnhem Land while collecting crocodile eggs. Picture: Supplied

“And (they) have concerns about encountering Mr Wight in circumstances that they didn’t agree to, or want to be party to.”

But Mr O‘Brien-Hartcher said the ankle monitor was a “restraint on liberty that doesn't serve a purpose”, particularly as there were no allegations of bail breaches against Wright.

“He would be very, very unwise to breach his bail. He doesn’t intend to do that,” Mr O‘Brien-Hartcher said.

He said while the monitoring devices could track someone’s movement, they could not confirm who they were with or if they were talking to, calling or writing to someone on the non-contact order.

Mr Wallace agreed and said electronic monitoring was more commonly used to enforce curfews, bans on certain areas or if there was a fear of fresh offending.

“It doesn’t seem to me that there's any justification for compromising the privacy of Mr Wright in this way,” he said.

Mr Wallace instead ordered that Wright give NT Police 12 hours notice before any change of residence between his three properties, Top End Safari camp at Darwin River, the Jingili Freshwater Retreat, Tiwi Island Retreat and a Virginia property.

Mr Wallace said given Wright’s reporting conditions, mobile records, and large coverage of surveillance cameras across the Territory, police would have little trouble proving a potential breach.

Mr Wallace added that since “Mr Wright’s company was unwelcome to many of these people” named on the non-contact order, the protected witnesses were likely to report any breach to police.

Mr Wright’s matter will return to court on March 8 for a preliminary examination mention to face the charges of perverting the course of justice, destroying and fabricating evidence, unlawful entry to a building and dwelling, making a false declaration and making threats or reprisal over a criminal process.