Sebastian Robinson, Timothy Luck, Dean Larsen and Stephen Slark allegedly illegally collected crocodile eggs
Crocodile DNA will be used as evidence against a former pilot who allegedly took crocodile eggs from Kakadu National Park. Read the latest here.
Crocodile hatchling DNA will be used as evidence against a former pilot accused of stealing eggs from the Territory’s iconic Kakadu National Park.
Sebastian Robinson alongside Timothy Luck, Dean Larsen and Stephen Slark were all charged with being a person who “takes, keeps or moves” a protected species, with the Commonwealth alleging they illegally took crocodile eggs from Kakadu National Park in February 2024.
On Tuesday, Darwin Local Court heard that SDRL Pty Ltd — operating as Kinga Contracting — was also charged with obtaining financial advantage by deception in relation to the alleged illegal crocodile egg collection, however it has not been formally served by prosecutors.
The four men’s defence lawyer James Stuchbery said he needed more time to work through the allegations given the “complexity of facts”, which included “purported DNA evidence in relation to the providence of crocodile hatchlings”.
Darwin Local Court judge Jon Bortoli agreed to adjourn all matters November 25 for another mention.
The Territory’s wild croc egg collection is part of an estimated $151m industry, with the eggs on sold to crocodile farms and raised for their meat and leather — with NT salties often becoming part of luxury brands like Hermes and Louis Vuitton.
Both Mr Robinson and Mr Luck gave evidence in the lengthy Supreme Court trial of their former boss and Outback Wrangler Matt Wright.
Mr Robinson was flying Mr Wright’s Robinson R-44 to lawfully collect crocodile eggs in February 2024 when the engine stopped over the King River in remote West Arnhem Land.
The 28-year-old pilot was critically injured and remains a paraplegic with a traumatic brain injury, while his friend Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson died at the scene.
In August his boss and Aussie celebrity Wright was found guilty on two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice, with the jury finding he lied to police and attempted to pressure Mr Robinson into manipulating flight records in the wake of the crash.
Mr Robinson was not charged with any wrongdoing in relation to the crash or as part of the charges against Wright.
Wright has filed his notice of appeal over the two guilty findings.
