NT chopper crash web snares rich and powerful
The web of people ‘inextricably linked’ to the February chopper crash that killed Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson is widening to include some of the NT’s most powerful and prominent.
The web of people “inextricably linked” to the February chopper crash that killed Outback Wrangler cast member Chris “Willow” Wilson is widening to include some of the Northern Territory’s most powerful and prominent.
Darwin Local Court has heard that a member of one of the Territory’s most wealthy families, David Hannon, is connected to the case, as are Darwin publican Mick Burns, celebrity croc-wrangling couple Matt and Kaia Wright and their television manager, Nick Fordham.
This comes as former Territory Response Group boss Neil Mellon returns to court on Wednesday for a preliminary mention about the serious offences he is accused of in relation to the major crash investigation.
Wilson, who starred on reality TV shows Outback Wrangler, Matt Wright’s Wild Territory and Wild Croc Territory, was killed when the helicopter from which he was hanging crashed in a remote part of West Arnhem Land on February 28 during a crocodile egg collection mission.
Michael Burbidge, who was also on the egg-collecting mission, located the wreckage, his best mate’s body and the seriously injured pilot about 10.30am before calling for help.
Soon after, senior NT cop Mr Mellon flew to the scene with Mr Wright and Mr Burns, who owns the crocodile-egg harvesting business.
In September, Mr Burbidge was charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, attempt to pervert the course of justice, destruction of evidence and providing a false statement in a statutory declaration.
A court has since heard that the bush helicopter pilot was part of a “matrix” of people in an alleged conspiracy to destroy evidence from the fatal crash. “We’re not saying Mr Burbidge is the main player (or) a central player, but he is part of an overall matrix of individuals who have come together and done things to obfuscate and impede proper investigation into the circumstances of that fatality,” crown prosecutor Steve Ledek said.
It was also revealed – during argument over his bail conditions – that police had banned Mr Burbidge from having any contact with Mr Mellon and Mr Wright and pilots Jock Purcell, Tim Johnson and Morgan Vidler.
Mr Ledek asked judge Ben O’Loughlin to add other witnesses and persons of interest – “of which there are many now” – connected to the complex criminal case to that list.
Police wanted the 44-year-old to be prohibited from contacting Mr Wright’s wife, their TV manager Mr Fordham, Mr Burns, Jai Tomlinson, David Hannon, egg collector Tim Luck and pilot Ty Richardson.
Mr Luck and Mr Richardson were in one helicopter collecting crocodile eggs on February 28 and landed at the crash site.
Buslink managing director Mr Hannon, who was a groomsman at Wilson’s wedding and spoke at his funeral, is from a prominent Darwin family. The family-run Hannon Group has been involved in a broad range of businesses and industries in the Territory, including public transport, property development and crocodile farming since 1945.
Defence lawyer Paul Crean said his client should be able to maintain contact with Mr Burns, Mr Hannon, Mr Luck and Mr Richardson for work purposes.
Mr Ledek said that might be so but “they are all so inextricably linked to the events of that fateful day”.
Judge O’Loughlin forbade Mr Burbidge from contacting Ms Wright, Mr Fordham and Mr Tomlinson but allowed Mr Burbidge to communicate with the others because of their ongoing business links.
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