Netflix crocodile wrangler Matt Wright pleads not guilty to perverting justice over Chris Wilson’s fatal NT crash
Netflix star Matt Wright has denied attempting to pervert justice over a fatal helicopter crash that killed his co-star Chris Wilson in remote Arnhem Land.
Celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright has pleaded not guilty to the attempting to pervert the course of justice, three years after the death of co-star Chris Wilson.
The Netflix star formally entered pleas of not guilty at the Northern Territory Supreme Court in Darwin on Monday, with a trial set to get under way on Wednesday, July 30.
The charges relate to a helicopter crash in remote western Arnhem Land in February 2022 that killed Wilson, a close friend of Mr Wright.
The crash occurred while Wilson is alleged to have been suspended underneath a Robinson R44 helicopter on a 30m sling during a crocodile egg collecting mission.
The pilot, 28-year-old Sebastian Robinson, suffered permanent injuries as a result of the crash.
It is alleged that on three occasions Mr Wright engaged in actions that attempted to compromise an investigation into the chopper crash.
The first charge related to alleged behaviour just four days after his friend’s death, on March 3, the second for a 10-day period between March 3 and March 13, and the third charge for alleged actions taken between September 21 and 25, 2022.
For three years Mr Wright has continuously said he would contest the charges against him, and on Monday the 45-year-old formally entered his “not guilty” pleas.
The courtroom was silent as the charges against Mr Wright were read aloud, with Mr Wilson’s widow Dani Wilson sitting on one side of the courtroom, while Mr Wright’s supporters including his wife Kaia watched from another.
With just two days left until the jury is selected, Prosecutor Jason Gullaci told Acting Justice Alan Blow that the agreed facts were almost complete.
“99.5 per cent is settled … there’s a bit of room around the edges,” Mr Gullaci said.
It is estimated the high profile celebrity trial will run for four weeks and call upon 25 witnesses.
Mr Wright rose to fame more than a decade ago when his reality TV series Outback Wrangler was first screened by the National Geographic Channel.
After four seasons over six years the ‘Outback Wrangler’ signed a 10-episode deal with the Nine Network and Netflix for a new series, Wild Croc Territory.
The Netflix series launched just before charges were laid against Mr Wright in November 2022.
The day before his Supreme Court appearance, Mr Wright announced on Instagram that the entire Outback Wrangler series would be available on Apple TV.
More to come
NSW loses $1.75m student bullying claim
An appeal has failed to overturn a judge’s ruling that NSW was liable for a brutal assault on a vulnerable student that took place ‘after school hours and off school grounds’.
Pro-Palestine protesters try to bypass Harbour Bridge ban
Chris Minns has blocked a planned march but defiant activists say ‘it’s not just up to the Premier to decide’, as ECAJ co-chair Alex Ryvchin says the protest would be ‘sullying another icon’.