TV reality star trial over chopper crash delayed again
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News.com.au
2 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Kiama MP Gareth Ward to fight expulsion attempt by Labor government in Supreme Court
Convicted rapist and sitting MP Gareth Ward will return before the Supreme Court in Sydney's CBD today as he fights attempts by the Labor-controlled state government to have him expelled from parliament. The Kiama MP was taken into custody on remand last week while awaiting sentencing after he was found guilty by a jury of three counts of indecent assault and a fourth count of intercourse without consent. The charges relate to acts against two young men – an 18-year-old at Meroo Meadow in 2013 and a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015 – and sparked calls for the south coast MP to resign from parliament. A motion was expected to be introduced by Labor to the Legislative Assembly to expel Ward, with support from the Coalition earlier this week. If successful, it would mark the first expulsion from the NSW lower house since 1917. Instead, the matter was set down for a full-day hearing at the Supreme Court after an 11th hour injunction was applied for by Ward's lawyers, who argue the state parliament does not have the power to expel him. The last-minute legal move makes it almost impossible to expel Ward, who is still being paid by parliament and is the current member for Kiama, before the Legislative Assembly adjourns until next month. Leader of the House Ron Hoenig earlier in the week said the court did not have the authority to stop matters being but before legislators, but that the state government would abide by the injunction out of respect. The matter sets the stage for a peculiar legal challenge. Premier Chris Minns told 2GB on Tuesday morning most people would 'appreciate it's an unconscionable situation to have someone who's currently sitting in jail in Silverwater convicted of serious sexual offences who is demanding to remain a member of parliament and continue to be paid'. Asked why Ward had not resigned, Mr Minns said 'clearly, he's got no shame'. Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said that, if the government was prepared, they could resume 'in the interim with a small quorum of MPs'. 'We would be willing to do that. It would be possible, for example, to have just 20 MPs, the quorum deal with the matter,' he said. Mr Speakman said 'As a general principle, we are supporting the government's efforts in court. 'That includes as a general principle the arguments that it's putting in court and the outcome that it seeks, which is that the injunction is lifted and the parliament can proceed to expel Mr Ward.' The injunctive orders issued by the court, 'pending further order', restrain the defendant, Mr Hoenig, from 'from taking any steps to expel or otherwise resolve to expel' Ward between July 30 and 10am on Friday.


The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Reality TV star tried to hide flight hours, jury hears
Following a fatal helicopter crash reality TV star Matt Wright tried to get his hands on documents that might betray his under-reporting of flying hours, a jury has heard. The Outback Wrangler star's trial is underway in the Supreme Court in Darwin more than three years after his co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson died in the outback crash that left pilot Sebastian Robinson a paraplegic. They were on a mission to collect crocodile eggs along the King River in Arnhem Land. Wright has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice following the February 2022 incident in the Northern Territory. The Crown case is that Wright did not properly record helicopter flying hours and was concerned that crash investigators would uncover that, leading to charges against him and his helicopter company. Crown prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC told the jury on Wednesday the charges did not relate to the cause of the accident and it's not alleged Wright was responsible for the crash, the death of Mr Wilson or Mr Robinson's injuries. The jurors have been told part of the evidence would be covertly recorded conversations of Wright and others at his home and on his phone, using listening devices. Mr Gullaci told jurors they would hear evidence that Wright tried to procure the diary, phone and pilot's logbook of Mr Robinson while the seriously injured pilot was in hospital in Brisbane. Wright allegedly asked an associate to seek the documents and the phone from Mr Robinson's family and he reportedly visited a cottage where Mr Robinson lived to source documents. "The prosecution case is that Wright was trying to get his hands on documents that might betray to investigators what was happening," Mr Gullaci said. The trial before Acting Justice Allan Blow continues on Thursday and is expected to take three to five weeks. Following a fatal helicopter crash reality TV star Matt Wright tried to get his hands on documents that might betray his under-reporting of flying hours, a jury has heard. The Outback Wrangler star's trial is underway in the Supreme Court in Darwin more than three years after his co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson died in the outback crash that left pilot Sebastian Robinson a paraplegic. They were on a mission to collect crocodile eggs along the King River in Arnhem Land. Wright has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice following the February 2022 incident in the Northern Territory. The Crown case is that Wright did not properly record helicopter flying hours and was concerned that crash investigators would uncover that, leading to charges against him and his helicopter company. Crown prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC told the jury on Wednesday the charges did not relate to the cause of the accident and it's not alleged Wright was responsible for the crash, the death of Mr Wilson or Mr Robinson's injuries. The jurors have been told part of the evidence would be covertly recorded conversations of Wright and others at his home and on his phone, using listening devices. Mr Gullaci told jurors they would hear evidence that Wright tried to procure the diary, phone and pilot's logbook of Mr Robinson while the seriously injured pilot was in hospital in Brisbane. Wright allegedly asked an associate to seek the documents and the phone from Mr Robinson's family and he reportedly visited a cottage where Mr Robinson lived to source documents. "The prosecution case is that Wright was trying to get his hands on documents that might betray to investigators what was happening," Mr Gullaci said. The trial before Acting Justice Allan Blow continues on Thursday and is expected to take three to five weeks. Following a fatal helicopter crash reality TV star Matt Wright tried to get his hands on documents that might betray his under-reporting of flying hours, a jury has heard. The Outback Wrangler star's trial is underway in the Supreme Court in Darwin more than three years after his co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson died in the outback crash that left pilot Sebastian Robinson a paraplegic. They were on a mission to collect crocodile eggs along the King River in Arnhem Land. Wright has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice following the February 2022 incident in the Northern Territory. The Crown case is that Wright did not properly record helicopter flying hours and was concerned that crash investigators would uncover that, leading to charges against him and his helicopter company. Crown prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC told the jury on Wednesday the charges did not relate to the cause of the accident and it's not alleged Wright was responsible for the crash, the death of Mr Wilson or Mr Robinson's injuries. The jurors have been told part of the evidence would be covertly recorded conversations of Wright and others at his home and on his phone, using listening devices. Mr Gullaci told jurors they would hear evidence that Wright tried to procure the diary, phone and pilot's logbook of Mr Robinson while the seriously injured pilot was in hospital in Brisbane. Wright allegedly asked an associate to seek the documents and the phone from Mr Robinson's family and he reportedly visited a cottage where Mr Robinson lived to source documents. "The prosecution case is that Wright was trying to get his hands on documents that might betray to investigators what was happening," Mr Gullaci said. The trial before Acting Justice Allan Blow continues on Thursday and is expected to take three to five weeks. Following a fatal helicopter crash reality TV star Matt Wright tried to get his hands on documents that might betray his under-reporting of flying hours, a jury has heard. The Outback Wrangler star's trial is underway in the Supreme Court in Darwin more than three years after his co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson died in the outback crash that left pilot Sebastian Robinson a paraplegic. They were on a mission to collect crocodile eggs along the King River in Arnhem Land. Wright has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice following the February 2022 incident in the Northern Territory. The Crown case is that Wright did not properly record helicopter flying hours and was concerned that crash investigators would uncover that, leading to charges against him and his helicopter company. Crown prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC told the jury on Wednesday the charges did not relate to the cause of the accident and it's not alleged Wright was responsible for the crash, the death of Mr Wilson or Mr Robinson's injuries. The jurors have been told part of the evidence would be covertly recorded conversations of Wright and others at his home and on his phone, using listening devices. Mr Gullaci told jurors they would hear evidence that Wright tried to procure the diary, phone and pilot's logbook of Mr Robinson while the seriously injured pilot was in hospital in Brisbane. Wright allegedly asked an associate to seek the documents and the phone from Mr Robinson's family and he reportedly visited a cottage where Mr Robinson lived to source documents. "The prosecution case is that Wright was trying to get his hands on documents that might betray to investigators what was happening," Mr Gullaci said. The trial before Acting Justice Allan Blow continues on Thursday and is expected to take three to five weeks.


Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
Reality TV star tried to hide flight hours, jury hears
Following a fatal helicopter crash reality TV star Matt Wright tried to get his hands on documents that might betray his under-reporting of flying hours, a jury has heard. The Outback Wrangler star's trial is underway in the Supreme Court in Darwin more than three years after his co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson died in the outback crash that left pilot Sebastian Robinson a paraplegic. They were on a mission to collect crocodile eggs along the King River in Arnhem Land. Wright has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice following the February 2022 incident in the Northern Territory. The Crown case is that Wright did not properly record helicopter flying hours and was concerned that crash investigators would uncover that, leading to charges against him and his helicopter company. Crown prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC told the jury on Wednesday the charges did not relate to the cause of the accident and it's not alleged Wright was responsible for the crash, the death of Mr Wilson or Mr Robinson's injuries. The jurors have been told part of the evidence would be covertly recorded conversations of Wright and others at his home and on his phone, using listening devices. Mr Gullaci told jurors they would hear evidence that Wright tried to procure the diary, phone and pilot's logbook of Mr Robinson while the seriously injured pilot was in hospital in Brisbane. Wright allegedly asked an associate to seek the documents and the phone from Mr Robinson's family and he reportedly visited a cottage where Mr Robinson lived to source documents. "The prosecution case is that Wright was trying to get his hands on documents that might betray to investigators what was happening," Mr Gullaci said. The trial before Acting Justice Allan Blow continues on Thursday and is expected to take three to five weeks.