Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright to stand trial for allegedly attempting to pervert the course of justice
Netflix star Matt Wright has been committed to stand trial following the crash that killed his co-star, as his two co-accused enter guilty pleas.
Outback Wrangler host Matt Wright has been committed to stand trial for allegedly attempting to pervert the course of justice after the fatal Northern Territory chopper crash that killed his Netflix co-star Chris Wilson while his two co-accused have pleaded guilty to destroying evidence.
The 44-year-old arrived at the Darwin Local Court on Thursday morning, with his wife Kaia and legal team, about 10 minutes before his planned two-day preliminary examination on the papers was about to start.
However, within minutes his committal hearing was over after Deputy Chief Judge Tanya Fong Lim committed the most serious of his seven criminal charges to the Supreme Court and adjourned the rest.
The celebrity croc-wrangler is facing serious charges related to his alleged actions after the helicopter crash, which occurred during a crocodile egg collecting mission at West Arnhem Land, on February 28 last year.
In November Wright was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, destroying evidence, fabricating evidence, unlawfully entering a building, unlawfully entering a dwelling, making a false declaration and interfering with witnesses in a criminal investigation or court process by making threats/reprisals.
Upon the commencement of this morning’s hearing, senior crown prosecutor Steve Ledek told Judge Fong Lim that the matter was ready to proceed to the Supreme Court.
“We are proceeding on charge one which is section 109,” he said.
Judge Fong Lim then asked Wright to “stand up please”.
“Matthew Wright, between 27 February 2022 and 17 March 2022 it is alleged at the King River in the Northern Territory and elsewhere you attempted to obstruct or defeat the course of justice,” Mr Ledek said.
After Wright’s charge was read out, the reality television star exercised his right to silence and did not enter a plea.
His lawyer Greg Jones told Judge Fong Lim they wished to formally withdraw their application to cross examine witnesses.
“Mr Wright’s been advised of his rights, he does not wish to say anything at this stage and he does not wish to call any evidence,” he said.
Judge Fong Lim said she was satisfied there was sufficient evidence to “place Mr Wright on trial” for count one – attempting to pervert the course of justice, which carries a 15-year jail sentence – and committed the matter to the Supreme Court.
It has been listed for a criminal call-over on January 18, where either a trial date or another mention might be set.
Mr Ledek asked the judge to adjourn counts two through to seven for a mention in the local court on June 18.
“I know your Honour is traditionally adverse to leaving things languishing without having a committed position,” he said.
“However, the reasons for that are quite obvious, the charges, they make up parts of the (indictable charge) in many respects and on what we anticipate may occur in the Supreme Court, those charges may not need to have anything further done with them.”
This is understood to mean that Wright’s six other charges now form a substantial component of the facts of the attempt to pervert the course of justice charge and if Wright pleads guilty and is sentenced on that charge, the other six charges will cease to exist.
Wright’s bail was enlarged and he was excused from appearing in court next month.
Wright’s company Helibrook owned and operated the destroyed Robinson Raven II, registered VH-IDW, which crashed soon after take-off from a clearing near the King River with Wilson slinging beneath it.
Wilson, 34, was killed while pilot Sebastian Robinson, 30, was critically injured and is now paraplegic.
Pilot Michael Burbidge, who was in another crew on the egg collecting mission, later located the wreckage of VH-IDW in a paperbark swamp and was the first on scene.
After being notified, Wright immediately flew to the remote crash site with off-duty police officer Neil Mellon and Darwin publican Mick Burns, who owns the crocodile egg harvesting business.
Burbidge and Mellon were also last year charged with serious offences – including making false statements, destroying evidence and attempting to pervert the course of justice – related to their alleged actions after the crash.
Both men pleaded guilty on Thursday to destroying evidence in relation to Wilson’s mobile phone which went missing from the crash site.
Mr Ledek read Burbidge’s charge to the court.
“Michael Keith Burbidge, you stand charged that between 28 February 2022 and 13 July 2022 at Maningrida and elsewhere in the Northern Territory of Australia you, knowing a thing, namely a mobile phone, might be required as evidence in a judicial proceeding,” he said.
“You destroyed the said mobile phone with the intent thereby to prevent it from being used in evidence.
“How do you plead, guilty or not guilty?”
Burbidge replied: “Guilty.”
The crown then formally withdrew his three other charges.
Burbidge will return to court on February 29 for submissions and sentencing.
Mellon appeared in court a short time later, where one of his charges were read out.
“Neil Ryan Mellon, you stand charged on the 28th of February 2022 at Maningrida in the Northern Territory of Australia of you knowing a thing, namely a mobile phone, might be required as evidence in a judicial proceeding.
“You destroyed the said mobile phone with the intent thereby to prevent it from being used in evidence.
“To that charge, how do you plead, guilty or not guilty?”
Mr Mellon replied: “Guilty.”
He will return to court on March 1 for submissions and sentencing.
By entering an early guilty plea and pleading guilty in the local court, Burbidge and Mellon will automatically receive a 25 percent discount on any custodial sentence imposed.
Mellon, who resigned from the police force after his arrest, is also facing a raft of other charges related to separate matters.
Those charges were listed for a directions hearing on February 5.
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