Outback Wrangler Matt Wright fights to keep fatal helicopter worksafe charges reaching Supreme Court jury
A Northern Territory reality television star is fighting to keep workplace safety charges in the lower courts, nearly three years since the death of his mate and co-star Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson.
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Outback Wrangler Matt Wright is fighting to stop an alleged workplace safety breach resulting in the death of his mate and co-star from ever reaching a jury.
Two years after a chopper crash killed 34-year-old father Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson, Mr Wright was charged with two breaches of the Work Safety Act in February 2024.
Mr Wilson was dangling 30m from a Robinson R44 collecting crocodile eggs when the helicopter’s engine stopped mid-flight over paperbark swamps at the King River, West Arnhem Land.
The crash killed Mr Wilson and seriously injured 28-year-old pilot Sebastian Robinson.
Mr Wright and his company Helibrook were both charged with reckless conduct risking death and failing to comply with his health and safety duty.
On Monday, the reality television star’s lawyer David Newey told Judge Therese Austin he was seeking to have the charges remain in the Darwin Local Court, and requested a half-day hearing for the legal arguments to determine the jurisdiction of the courts.
By keeping the matter before the local courts, Mr Wright would avoid a potential jury trial.
NT Worksafe has alleged Helibrook interfered with the helicopter’s Hobbs Meter — which records flight times — and failed to accurately record the flight times in the Maintenance Release.
It is a requirement for helicopter maintenance every 100 hours of operation.
A 2023 Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation said the helicopter crash was caused due to an engine failure, likely due to fuel exhaustion.
Ms Austin adjourned the legal hearing to April 24 — just 75 days before Mr Wright’s mammoth eight-week Supreme Court trial.
In that matter, Mr Wright faces a single count of attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to the same fatal chopper crash.
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Originally published as Outback Wrangler Matt Wright fights to keep fatal helicopter worksafe charges reaching Supreme Court jury
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