Grim warning to Netflix star after crash: court
Outback Wrangler Matt Wright pleaded not guilty to three allegations of attempting to pervert the course of justice following the death of his mate, Chris 'Willow' Wilson during a crocodile egg collecting mission on February 28, 2022.
Over the past three days of Supreme Court evidence it has been alleged Mr Wright conspired to cover up a 'pattern' of dodgy records, where it is alleged he underreported flight hours to avoid costly maintenance requirements.
On Friday, the jury heard the man who destroyed the dead man's phone hours after the crash warned the reality television star: 'You need to find out who's f--king said it so you know who to trust or who not to trust'.
Remote Helicopter Australia pilot Michael Burbidge was the first on the scene of the crash, after getting worried about the radio silence from the other chopper team.
He said it took up to 18 minutes to discover the horrific scene, finding his friend dead and his 28-year-old pilot Sebastian Robinson in need of urgent medical attention Outback Wrangler Matt Wright arrives at the NT Supreme Court in Darwin with his wife Kaia Wright and defence senior counsel David Edwardson KC on Friday, August 8. Zizi Averill Credit: News Corp Australia
Struggling to get reception in the remote paperbark swamp, Mr Burbidge told the court the wait for help 'felt like forever'.
Mr Burbidge said as soon as the CareFlight helicopter left with Mr Robinson, Mr Wright landed with Mr Burns and off-duty senior NT Police officer Neil Mellon.
He said he did not remember checking the fuel tank, saying 'I was pretty cooked by then'.
Mr Burbidge said he removed a jerry can from the helicopter, while Mr Mellon removed Mr Wilson's pistol and phone.
He said he told the cop Mr Wilson's wife Dani 'doesn't need to see what's on the phone'. Croc egg collector Chris Wilson was killed, while his pilot Sebastian Robinson was critically injured in a helicopter crash on the King River, West Arnhem on February 28. Credit: News Corp Australia
Mr Burbidge said he 'got rid' of his dead friend's phone while on the flight home with Mr Mellon, stating: 'I piffed it somewhere on the way home'.
He maintained Mr Wright was not involved in the decision to destroy the phone telling the court: 'I did it all on my own'.
The jury heard a bugged telephone call between Mr Wright and Mr Burbidge on August 9, 2022, where the pilot allegedly warned the television star the crashed chopper's log books were known to be inaccurate.
'I don't know, mate, I just got it from a f--king good source that f--king someone at the engineers were f--king — when it's come in and the clock's been off, or they said the clock's been off, they've written it in the log book,' he said.
'You need to find out who's f--king said it so you know who to trust or who not to trust.' Chris 'Willow' Wilson's widow, Dani Wilson arrives for the trial of Outback Wrangler Matt Wright at the NT Supreme Court in Darwin on Friday, August 8. Zizi Averill Credit: News Corp Australia
Mr Burbidge denied this was a warning to his mate that Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators were tipped off to Mr Wright's practice of disconnecting the flight hour recording device, the Hobbs meter.
He said he was concerned the crashed chopper's records may have been manipulated, denying there was any 'criminal intent' to this call with a friend.
'If someone is tampering with your log books you need to know — that's what the phone call was about,' he said.
The jury has previously heard in a bugged conversation months later, Mr Wright allegedly suggested the crashed chopper's maintenance release be destroyed.
'Just torch it, I don't know where it is' and 'just burn the c--t', he allegedly said. Remote Helicopters Australia director and pilot Michael Burbidge arrives with his wife Jade Burbidge for the trial of Outback Wrangler Matt Wright at the NT Supreme Court in Darwin on Friday, August 8. Zizi Averill Credit: News Corp Australia
Speaking generally, Mr Burbidge conceded it was 'common knowledge' some pilots would disconnect the Hobbs meter, but said Territorians 'get a bad rap' for the practice.
Former employee of Mr Wright, Timothy Luck said he had been in many choppers with a disconnected Hobbs meters, saying he had previously witnessed Mr Robinson disconnect the device.
Under intense cross-examination, Mr Luck said he was 'very confident' he filled Mr Wilson and Mr Robinson's chopper fuel tanks to the brim at a refuelling stop at Mt Borradaile, just 20 minutes before the crash.
Mr Luck said he even 'overfilled the machine' causing it to 'spill down the side', saying 'those two boys gave me a bit of stick about it'.
The trial continues on Monday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
State's childcare centres ‘on notice'
Childcare and early learning centres in NSW have been put on notice that the 'days of pretending to improve while nothing is done are over', with centres failing children to face a crackdown. Acting Education and Early Learning Minister Courtney Houssos has announced a list of changes coming for the sector, including the launch of an independent regulator agency and providing parents with 'increased information' and 'transparency for the community'. Former deputy NSW Ombudsman Chris Wheeler was commissioned to conduct an independent review into the sector in February after a rise in safety breaches in the sector last year. A list of proposed reforms was released in June. Speaking to media on Wednesday, Ms Houssos welcomed feedback for its reforms into the childhood sector. The NSW government will introduce a trial of CCTV cameras inside childcare centres. NewsWire / David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia 'We will be increasing the fines on individual centres,' she said. 'And we will be, as the Wheeler Review recommended, establishing a trial of CCTV cameras.' Ms Houssos said while there were many early 'fantastic' learning centres across the state, the underperforming centres had been put on notice. 'The time for the days are pretending to improve while nothing is done are over,' she said. 'We are really clear that we will be cracking down on those centres who are not delivering for those safe and quality environments for parents and for children. 'We take this responsibility incredibly seriously, that's why we have such a comprehensive program of reform.' Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said poorly performing early childcare centres were 'on notice'. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia However, in response to the reforms, early educator Rebecca Saville argued the changes were a 'Band-Aid fix', In a letter penned to the federal Early Childhood Education Minister Jess Walsh, Ms Saville said the sector didn't need announcements, but rather an 'overhaul' of 'how the sector is funded, staffed, regulated, and respected'. 'I was prompted to write the letter because I was hearing of other educators' concerns within the sector and how the new safety measures don't address the issues at heart and are a Band-Aid fix,' she said per The Daily Telegraph. Ms Houssos said the government was 'hamstrung' getting the reforms through. NewsWire / David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia Ms Houssos told media on Wednesday the government was working with ministers from across the country on the reforms, which she hopes would be 'pursued at a national level'. 'We have a sense of urgency for the reforms that we're pursuing,' she said. 'And we are going to get these changes under way.' 'We are hamstrung by the national law, but this is law that does pass through each of the individual parliaments,' she added. 'I want to be clear under performing centres that the time of pretending to improve while nothing is done are over.'
Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Perth Now
Powerball's odd act to find $100m winner
A band of runners will be taking extraordinary steps to try to track down the mysterious winner of the $100m Powerball ticket, who is yet to claim their enormous prize. It has been nine weeks since a single player from Sydney took home the jackpot prize of $100m, making them the third-largest lottery winner in the country. However, the victorious ticketholder has yet to come forward to claim their winnings. The Lott is still on the hunt for the mysterious Powerball winner. NewsWire/ David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia The elusive resident purchased the winning ticket at Bondi Junction Newsagency for Powerball draw 1217, which was drawn on June 12. The winning numbers in Powerball draw 1517 were 28, 10, 3, 16, 31, 14 and 21, with the Powerball number 6. In NSW, ticketholders have six years to claim their winnings before it expires. The $100m prize was drawn in early June. NewsWire/ David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia In an effort to inspire the mysterious winner to check their wallet, a band of runners from The Lott will be conducting a 'memory jog' by pounding the pavement across Bondi. 'It has now been 63 days since the elusive ticket holder won this massive $100m prize and throughout that time we have been eagerly waiting to unite the winner with their Powerball windfall,' The Lott spokesman Matt Hart said. 'Each day during the past nine weeks, we've been asking ourselves 'is today the day the winning ticket is presented?'' The elusive ticketholder has six years to claim their prize. NewsWire / Diego Fedele Credit: News Corp Australia The memory jog will take place in the vicinity of the newsagency in Bondi Junction in hopes it 'sparks a memory and spurs players to hunt for unchecked lottery tickets'. He urged residents to check their ticket, even if they did not think they held the winning combination. 'In previous cases where people have come forward weeks, months and even years after the draw to finally claim their prize, they've told us the winning ticket was hiding in plain sight the whole time – in their wallet or purse, on the fridge, or just lying around in a drawer,' he said. 'Imagine winning $100m and not knowing it. How might the past two months have been with a $100m boost to your bank account?'
The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Chopper death crash pilot details lies to investigators
A pilot who survived a deadly helicopter crash has detailed lies he told investigators after deleting phone messages, saying he was in a "very bad way" at the time with life-changing injuries. Sebastian Robinson is a paraplegic after the crash in February 2022 that killed Outback Wrangler co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. Mr Robinson is giving evidence in the Supreme Court in Darwin at the trial of reality TV star Matt Wright, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Prosecutors allege the helicopter operator was worried crash investigators would discover flight-time meters were disconnected regularly to extend flying hours beyond official thresholds and paperwork was falsified. Mr Wilson fell to the ground from a sling beneath the chopper while collecting crocodile eggs in remote swampland. The aircraft then crashed, seriously injuring Mr Robinson who on Wednesday gave evidence by video link from his wheelchair. The jury heard 10 days after the crash Wright visited Mr Robinson while he was heavily sedated in hospital and asked him to manipulate flying hour records. Under questioning from senior defence counsel for Wright, David Edwardson KC, Mr Robinson admitted he had lied to Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators around the same time. Among the lies were that before the crash the helicopter was functioning well and he was busy with the role of maintenance controller at Wright's Helibrook company when in fact he held the position in name only. Mr Robinson admitted saying there had only been a spark plug issue with the helicopter when "there were many more problems with the aircraft". He said his condition hindered his proper judgment at the time. "I was in a very bad way." The 32-year-old told the jury on Tuesday he had fractures of his vertebrae, resulting in a complete severance of his spinal cord, rendering him a paraplegic. Both his lungs were punctured, his left elbow and ankles were fractured and he suffered a traumatic brain injury that still causes him cognition problems and mood swings. Mr Edwardson has previously alleged in the lead-up to the crash Mr Robinson was a cocaine-using "party animal" who was "hopeless" at flight record keeping. The court on Wednesday heard Mr Robinson had done contract work with Indigenous groups in Arnhem Land, including Aboriginal rangers. Under questioning by Mr Edwardson, Mr Robinson agreed it was "unforgivable" to supply alcohol or illegal drugs to Indigenous communities where liquor was banned. "There might have been the occasion I'd have a very small amount of alcohol under the seat of the helicopter, but I wasn't supplying a commercial amount," he said. The court heard Wright visited Mr Robinson in Royal Brisbane Hospital when he was heavily sedated with "tubes coming out of me everywhere". Crown prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC asked Mr Robinson what Wright had requested of him at his hospital bedside and he replied "to manipulate hours on my aircraft". "He asked if I would consider putting any of his hours, from his helicopter, onto my helicopter." The court was told Mr Robinson was being asked to put egg-collecting hours flown on Wright's crashed helicopter onto his helicopter, which was not fitted with equipment for egg collecting. Mr Robinson said he told Wright on a return visit the next day that "I didn't feel comfortable doing it". The court was told Mr Robinson was asked to fly egg-collecting missions in Arnhem Land, where COVID restrictions were in place, because Wright was an anti-vaxxer and could not enter the Indigenous territory. Jurors heard Wright visited Mr Robinson in hospital despite requirements to show a COVID vaccination certificate and having to complete a test for the virus. The charges against Wright do not relate to the cause of the accident and the prosecution does not allege he is responsible for either the crash, Mr Wilson's death or Mr Robinson's injuries. The trial continues. A pilot who survived a deadly helicopter crash has detailed lies he told investigators after deleting phone messages, saying he was in a "very bad way" at the time with life-changing injuries. Sebastian Robinson is a paraplegic after the crash in February 2022 that killed Outback Wrangler co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. Mr Robinson is giving evidence in the Supreme Court in Darwin at the trial of reality TV star Matt Wright, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Prosecutors allege the helicopter operator was worried crash investigators would discover flight-time meters were disconnected regularly to extend flying hours beyond official thresholds and paperwork was falsified. Mr Wilson fell to the ground from a sling beneath the chopper while collecting crocodile eggs in remote swampland. The aircraft then crashed, seriously injuring Mr Robinson who on Wednesday gave evidence by video link from his wheelchair. The jury heard 10 days after the crash Wright visited Mr Robinson while he was heavily sedated in hospital and asked him to manipulate flying hour records. Under questioning from senior defence counsel for Wright, David Edwardson KC, Mr Robinson admitted he had lied to Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators around the same time. Among the lies were that before the crash the helicopter was functioning well and he was busy with the role of maintenance controller at Wright's Helibrook company when in fact he held the position in name only. Mr Robinson admitted saying there had only been a spark plug issue with the helicopter when "there were many more problems with the aircraft". He said his condition hindered his proper judgment at the time. "I was in a very bad way." The 32-year-old told the jury on Tuesday he had fractures of his vertebrae, resulting in a complete severance of his spinal cord, rendering him a paraplegic. Both his lungs were punctured, his left elbow and ankles were fractured and he suffered a traumatic brain injury that still causes him cognition problems and mood swings. Mr Edwardson has previously alleged in the lead-up to the crash Mr Robinson was a cocaine-using "party animal" who was "hopeless" at flight record keeping. The court on Wednesday heard Mr Robinson had done contract work with Indigenous groups in Arnhem Land, including Aboriginal rangers. Under questioning by Mr Edwardson, Mr Robinson agreed it was "unforgivable" to supply alcohol or illegal drugs to Indigenous communities where liquor was banned. "There might have been the occasion I'd have a very small amount of alcohol under the seat of the helicopter, but I wasn't supplying a commercial amount," he said. The court heard Wright visited Mr Robinson in Royal Brisbane Hospital when he was heavily sedated with "tubes coming out of me everywhere". Crown prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC asked Mr Robinson what Wright had requested of him at his hospital bedside and he replied "to manipulate hours on my aircraft". "He asked if I would consider putting any of his hours, from his helicopter, onto my helicopter." The court was told Mr Robinson was being asked to put egg-collecting hours flown on Wright's crashed helicopter onto his helicopter, which was not fitted with equipment for egg collecting. Mr Robinson said he told Wright on a return visit the next day that "I didn't feel comfortable doing it". The court was told Mr Robinson was asked to fly egg-collecting missions in Arnhem Land, where COVID restrictions were in place, because Wright was an anti-vaxxer and could not enter the Indigenous territory. Jurors heard Wright visited Mr Robinson in hospital despite requirements to show a COVID vaccination certificate and having to complete a test for the virus. The charges against Wright do not relate to the cause of the accident and the prosecution does not allege he is responsible for either the crash, Mr Wilson's death or Mr Robinson's injuries. The trial continues. A pilot who survived a deadly helicopter crash has detailed lies he told investigators after deleting phone messages, saying he was in a "very bad way" at the time with life-changing injuries. Sebastian Robinson is a paraplegic after the crash in February 2022 that killed Outback Wrangler co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. Mr Robinson is giving evidence in the Supreme Court in Darwin at the trial of reality TV star Matt Wright, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Prosecutors allege the helicopter operator was worried crash investigators would discover flight-time meters were disconnected regularly to extend flying hours beyond official thresholds and paperwork was falsified. Mr Wilson fell to the ground from a sling beneath the chopper while collecting crocodile eggs in remote swampland. The aircraft then crashed, seriously injuring Mr Robinson who on Wednesday gave evidence by video link from his wheelchair. The jury heard 10 days after the crash Wright visited Mr Robinson while he was heavily sedated in hospital and asked him to manipulate flying hour records. Under questioning from senior defence counsel for Wright, David Edwardson KC, Mr Robinson admitted he had lied to Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators around the same time. Among the lies were that before the crash the helicopter was functioning well and he was busy with the role of maintenance controller at Wright's Helibrook company when in fact he held the position in name only. Mr Robinson admitted saying there had only been a spark plug issue with the helicopter when "there were many more problems with the aircraft". He said his condition hindered his proper judgment at the time. "I was in a very bad way." The 32-year-old told the jury on Tuesday he had fractures of his vertebrae, resulting in a complete severance of his spinal cord, rendering him a paraplegic. Both his lungs were punctured, his left elbow and ankles were fractured and he suffered a traumatic brain injury that still causes him cognition problems and mood swings. Mr Edwardson has previously alleged in the lead-up to the crash Mr Robinson was a cocaine-using "party animal" who was "hopeless" at flight record keeping. The court on Wednesday heard Mr Robinson had done contract work with Indigenous groups in Arnhem Land, including Aboriginal rangers. Under questioning by Mr Edwardson, Mr Robinson agreed it was "unforgivable" to supply alcohol or illegal drugs to Indigenous communities where liquor was banned. "There might have been the occasion I'd have a very small amount of alcohol under the seat of the helicopter, but I wasn't supplying a commercial amount," he said. The court heard Wright visited Mr Robinson in Royal Brisbane Hospital when he was heavily sedated with "tubes coming out of me everywhere". Crown prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC asked Mr Robinson what Wright had requested of him at his hospital bedside and he replied "to manipulate hours on my aircraft". "He asked if I would consider putting any of his hours, from his helicopter, onto my helicopter." The court was told Mr Robinson was being asked to put egg-collecting hours flown on Wright's crashed helicopter onto his helicopter, which was not fitted with equipment for egg collecting. Mr Robinson said he told Wright on a return visit the next day that "I didn't feel comfortable doing it". The court was told Mr Robinson was asked to fly egg-collecting missions in Arnhem Land, where COVID restrictions were in place, because Wright was an anti-vaxxer and could not enter the Indigenous territory. Jurors heard Wright visited Mr Robinson in hospital despite requirements to show a COVID vaccination certificate and having to complete a test for the virus. The charges against Wright do not relate to the cause of the accident and the prosecution does not allege he is responsible for either the crash, Mr Wilson's death or Mr Robinson's injuries. The trial continues. A pilot who survived a deadly helicopter crash has detailed lies he told investigators after deleting phone messages, saying he was in a "very bad way" at the time with life-changing injuries. Sebastian Robinson is a paraplegic after the crash in February 2022 that killed Outback Wrangler co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. Mr Robinson is giving evidence in the Supreme Court in Darwin at the trial of reality TV star Matt Wright, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Prosecutors allege the helicopter operator was worried crash investigators would discover flight-time meters were disconnected regularly to extend flying hours beyond official thresholds and paperwork was falsified. Mr Wilson fell to the ground from a sling beneath the chopper while collecting crocodile eggs in remote swampland. The aircraft then crashed, seriously injuring Mr Robinson who on Wednesday gave evidence by video link from his wheelchair. The jury heard 10 days after the crash Wright visited Mr Robinson while he was heavily sedated in hospital and asked him to manipulate flying hour records. Under questioning from senior defence counsel for Wright, David Edwardson KC, Mr Robinson admitted he had lied to Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators around the same time. Among the lies were that before the crash the helicopter was functioning well and he was busy with the role of maintenance controller at Wright's Helibrook company when in fact he held the position in name only. Mr Robinson admitted saying there had only been a spark plug issue with the helicopter when "there were many more problems with the aircraft". He said his condition hindered his proper judgment at the time. "I was in a very bad way." The 32-year-old told the jury on Tuesday he had fractures of his vertebrae, resulting in a complete severance of his spinal cord, rendering him a paraplegic. Both his lungs were punctured, his left elbow and ankles were fractured and he suffered a traumatic brain injury that still causes him cognition problems and mood swings. Mr Edwardson has previously alleged in the lead-up to the crash Mr Robinson was a cocaine-using "party animal" who was "hopeless" at flight record keeping. The court on Wednesday heard Mr Robinson had done contract work with Indigenous groups in Arnhem Land, including Aboriginal rangers. Under questioning by Mr Edwardson, Mr Robinson agreed it was "unforgivable" to supply alcohol or illegal drugs to Indigenous communities where liquor was banned. "There might have been the occasion I'd have a very small amount of alcohol under the seat of the helicopter, but I wasn't supplying a commercial amount," he said. The court heard Wright visited Mr Robinson in Royal Brisbane Hospital when he was heavily sedated with "tubes coming out of me everywhere". Crown prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC asked Mr Robinson what Wright had requested of him at his hospital bedside and he replied "to manipulate hours on my aircraft". "He asked if I would consider putting any of his hours, from his helicopter, onto my helicopter." The court was told Mr Robinson was being asked to put egg-collecting hours flown on Wright's crashed helicopter onto his helicopter, which was not fitted with equipment for egg collecting. Mr Robinson said he told Wright on a return visit the next day that "I didn't feel comfortable doing it". The court was told Mr Robinson was asked to fly egg-collecting missions in Arnhem Land, where COVID restrictions were in place, because Wright was an anti-vaxxer and could not enter the Indigenous territory. Jurors heard Wright visited Mr Robinson in hospital despite requirements to show a COVID vaccination certificate and having to complete a test for the virus. The charges against Wright do not relate to the cause of the accident and the prosecution does not allege he is responsible for either the crash, Mr Wilson's death or Mr Robinson's injuries. The trial continues.
