Smokey Robinson was investigated for 2015 sex assault
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office confirmed the decade-old investigation and its decision to decline charges in a statement on Friday. The office said no details could be provided because of the current investigation of Robinson.
Four former housekeepers of the singer-songwriter and Motown music luminary have alleged that he raped and sexually assaulted them between 2007 and 2024.
The women filed a lawsuit on May 6, then the following week the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department revealed that its Special Victims Bureau was "actively investigating criminal allegations" against Robinson.
Robinson's lawyer Christopher Frost said in a statement Friday that they are "pleased" that the district attorney "confirmed there was no basis to file charges a decade ago."
"One unfortunate aspect of celebrity is that it is not uncommon to be the target of spurious and unsubstantiated allegations," Frost said.
"Mr. Robinson looks forward to the conclusion of the current investigation, and has no doubt that a similar determination will be reached here."
Frost previously called the housekeepers' allegations "vile" and "false".
The 2015 case was first reported by TMZ.
On Wednesday, Robinson and his wife, Frances, who was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, sued the women for defamation, saying their allegations were "fabricated in an extortionate scheme".
A statement on Friday from the housekeepers' lawyers, John Harris and Herbert Hayden, emphasised that there were no charges in the 2015 case "due to insufficient evidence — not because the claims lacked merit.".
They said "this latest development further affirms that at least five women have now come forward with allegations of sexual assault against Mr. Robinson. Together, they are united in their pursuit of justice".
Robinson, a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, was a key figure in the Motown Records machine of the 1960s as both an artist and a writer, and was one of the biggest hitmakers of the era with songs including Tears of a Clown and The Tracks of My Tears.
The housekeepers are seeking at least $US50 million ($A78 million) in the lawsuit. They have not publicly revealed their names.
They allege Robinson raped and sexually assaulted them after isolating them, usually in his home. One woman said she was assaulted at least 20 times while working for Robinson from 2012 until 2024. Another said she worked for him from 2014 until 2020 and was assaulted at least 23 times.
They said Frances Robinson enabled him and created an abusive workplace.
The Robinsons' defamation lawsuit says the women "stayed with the Robinsons year after year," vacationed with them, celebrated holidays with them, exchanged gifts with them, asked for tickets to his concerts, and sought and received help from them including money for dental surgery, financial support for a disabled family member, and "even a car".
The court filing says that despite the couple's generosity, the women "secretly harboured resentment for the Robinsons and sought to enrich themselves through the Robinsons' wealth."
Authorities investigated a previous sexual assault allegation against Smokey Robinson in 2015, but no charges were filed because of insufficient evidence, prosecutors say.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office confirmed the decade-old investigation and its decision to decline charges in a statement on Friday. The office said no details could be provided because of the current investigation of Robinson.
Four former housekeepers of the singer-songwriter and Motown music luminary have alleged that he raped and sexually assaulted them between 2007 and 2024.
The women filed a lawsuit on May 6, then the following week the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department revealed that its Special Victims Bureau was "actively investigating criminal allegations" against Robinson.
Robinson's lawyer Christopher Frost said in a statement Friday that they are "pleased" that the district attorney "confirmed there was no basis to file charges a decade ago."
"One unfortunate aspect of celebrity is that it is not uncommon to be the target of spurious and unsubstantiated allegations," Frost said.
"Mr. Robinson looks forward to the conclusion of the current investigation, and has no doubt that a similar determination will be reached here."
Frost previously called the housekeepers' allegations "vile" and "false".
The 2015 case was first reported by TMZ.
On Wednesday, Robinson and his wife, Frances, who was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, sued the women for defamation, saying their allegations were "fabricated in an extortionate scheme".
A statement on Friday from the housekeepers' lawyers, John Harris and Herbert Hayden, emphasised that there were no charges in the 2015 case "due to insufficient evidence — not because the claims lacked merit.".
They said "this latest development further affirms that at least five women have now come forward with allegations of sexual assault against Mr. Robinson. Together, they are united in their pursuit of justice".
Robinson, a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, was a key figure in the Motown Records machine of the 1960s as both an artist and a writer, and was one of the biggest hitmakers of the era with songs including Tears of a Clown and The Tracks of My Tears.
The housekeepers are seeking at least $US50 million ($A78 million) in the lawsuit. They have not publicly revealed their names.
They allege Robinson raped and sexually assaulted them after isolating them, usually in his home. One woman said she was assaulted at least 20 times while working for Robinson from 2012 until 2024. Another said she worked for him from 2014 until 2020 and was assaulted at least 23 times.
They said Frances Robinson enabled him and created an abusive workplace.
The Robinsons' defamation lawsuit says the women "stayed with the Robinsons year after year," vacationed with them, celebrated holidays with them, exchanged gifts with them, asked for tickets to his concerts, and sought and received help from them including money for dental surgery, financial support for a disabled family member, and "even a car".
The court filing says that despite the couple's generosity, the women "secretly harboured resentment for the Robinsons and sought to enrich themselves through the Robinsons' wealth."
Authorities investigated a previous sexual assault allegation against Smokey Robinson in 2015, but no charges were filed because of insufficient evidence, prosecutors say.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office confirmed the decade-old investigation and its decision to decline charges in a statement on Friday. The office said no details could be provided because of the current investigation of Robinson.
Four former housekeepers of the singer-songwriter and Motown music luminary have alleged that he raped and sexually assaulted them between 2007 and 2024.
The women filed a lawsuit on May 6, then the following week the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department revealed that its Special Victims Bureau was "actively investigating criminal allegations" against Robinson.
Robinson's lawyer Christopher Frost said in a statement Friday that they are "pleased" that the district attorney "confirmed there was no basis to file charges a decade ago."
"One unfortunate aspect of celebrity is that it is not uncommon to be the target of spurious and unsubstantiated allegations," Frost said.
"Mr. Robinson looks forward to the conclusion of the current investigation, and has no doubt that a similar determination will be reached here."
Frost previously called the housekeepers' allegations "vile" and "false".
The 2015 case was first reported by TMZ.
On Wednesday, Robinson and his wife, Frances, who was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, sued the women for defamation, saying their allegations were "fabricated in an extortionate scheme".
A statement on Friday from the housekeepers' lawyers, John Harris and Herbert Hayden, emphasised that there were no charges in the 2015 case "due to insufficient evidence — not because the claims lacked merit.".
They said "this latest development further affirms that at least five women have now come forward with allegations of sexual assault against Mr. Robinson. Together, they are united in their pursuit of justice".
Robinson, a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, was a key figure in the Motown Records machine of the 1960s as both an artist and a writer, and was one of the biggest hitmakers of the era with songs including Tears of a Clown and The Tracks of My Tears.
The housekeepers are seeking at least $US50 million ($A78 million) in the lawsuit. They have not publicly revealed their names.
They allege Robinson raped and sexually assaulted them after isolating them, usually in his home. One woman said she was assaulted at least 20 times while working for Robinson from 2012 until 2024. Another said she worked for him from 2014 until 2020 and was assaulted at least 23 times.
They said Frances Robinson enabled him and created an abusive workplace.
The Robinsons' defamation lawsuit says the women "stayed with the Robinsons year after year," vacationed with them, celebrated holidays with them, exchanged gifts with them, asked for tickets to his concerts, and sought and received help from them including money for dental surgery, financial support for a disabled family member, and "even a car".
The court filing says that despite the couple's generosity, the women "secretly harboured resentment for the Robinsons and sought to enrich themselves through the Robinsons' wealth."
Authorities investigated a previous sexual assault allegation against Smokey Robinson in 2015, but no charges were filed because of insufficient evidence, prosecutors say.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office confirmed the decade-old investigation and its decision to decline charges in a statement on Friday. The office said no details could be provided because of the current investigation of Robinson.
Four former housekeepers of the singer-songwriter and Motown music luminary have alleged that he raped and sexually assaulted them between 2007 and 2024.
The women filed a lawsuit on May 6, then the following week the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department revealed that its Special Victims Bureau was "actively investigating criminal allegations" against Robinson.
Robinson's lawyer Christopher Frost said in a statement Friday that they are "pleased" that the district attorney "confirmed there was no basis to file charges a decade ago."
"One unfortunate aspect of celebrity is that it is not uncommon to be the target of spurious and unsubstantiated allegations," Frost said.
"Mr. Robinson looks forward to the conclusion of the current investigation, and has no doubt that a similar determination will be reached here."
Frost previously called the housekeepers' allegations "vile" and "false".
The 2015 case was first reported by TMZ.
On Wednesday, Robinson and his wife, Frances, who was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, sued the women for defamation, saying their allegations were "fabricated in an extortionate scheme".
A statement on Friday from the housekeepers' lawyers, John Harris and Herbert Hayden, emphasised that there were no charges in the 2015 case "due to insufficient evidence — not because the claims lacked merit.".
They said "this latest development further affirms that at least five women have now come forward with allegations of sexual assault against Mr. Robinson. Together, they are united in their pursuit of justice".
Robinson, a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, was a key figure in the Motown Records machine of the 1960s as both an artist and a writer, and was one of the biggest hitmakers of the era with songs including Tears of a Clown and The Tracks of My Tears.
The housekeepers are seeking at least $US50 million ($A78 million) in the lawsuit. They have not publicly revealed their names.
They allege Robinson raped and sexually assaulted them after isolating them, usually in his home. One woman said she was assaulted at least 20 times while working for Robinson from 2012 until 2024. Another said she worked for him from 2014 until 2020 and was assaulted at least 23 times.
They said Frances Robinson enabled him and created an abusive workplace.
The Robinsons' defamation lawsuit says the women "stayed with the Robinsons year after year," vacationed with them, celebrated holidays with them, exchanged gifts with them, asked for tickets to his concerts, and sought and received help from them including money for dental surgery, financial support for a disabled family member, and "even a car".
The court filing says that despite the couple's generosity, the women "secretly harboured resentment for the Robinsons and sought to enrich themselves through the Robinsons' wealth."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Crash pilot denies flying high and failing to fuel up
A pilot seriously injured in a deadly crash while flying one of reality TV star Matt Wright's helicopters has admitted supplying cocaine but denies flying high or failing to fuel up. Sebastian Robinson was left 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 Wright, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Prosecutors allege the TV star 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 is giving evidence by video link from his wheelchair. The 32-year-old has previously admitted using cocaine about twice a year before the crash. But defence counsel David Edwardson KC on Thursday read out text messages police extracted from Mr Robinson's mobile phone, detailing regular exchanges with friends about supplying the drug. The messages from November 2018 to August 2021 were from friends asking him if he was "getting more coke" or could he "get good stuff for Chrissy party" and did he have "some Charlie". One message read "footy players in town and want bags", with Mr Edwardson asking Mr Robinson whether he had planned to supply them with cocaine. Mr Robinson said he could not recall that message, adding he had never flown helicopters while high. In response to Mr Edwardson's line of questioning, he said: "Are you implying that I'm a drug dealer? No." In another exchange, Mr Robinson said he was "crook as a dog" with a friend texting back, "snorting too much coke out of Matty's arse". Wright chuckled in the dock when the message was read out. Mr Robinson has vigorously denied the helicopter crashed because it ran out of fuel. The jury heard he told an NT Police investigator in 2022: "I can guarantee you I did not run out of fuel ... that's not what caused the accident, it was full from the croc farm." Mr Edwardson submitted that if it was proved the aircraft ran out of fuel, Mr Robinson knew he would be "in the crosshairs", facing blame and charges over the crash and Mr Wilson's death. "If you failed to fill up the aircraft and, as a consequence, it ran out of fuel and fell out of the sky, the buck would stop with you," the barrister said. "That must have been a terrifying thought for you." "Yes, it was a concerning thought," Mr Robinson replied. "I just did not want to be blamed for running out of fuel when in my heart I know that didn't happen." Mr Robinson, who was not a qualified flight instructor, agreed he had allowed Mr Wilson, a trainee pilot, to fly with him on helicopters fitted with dual controls despite that being illegal and Wright disallowing it. Mr Wilson had flown the chopper on the day of the crash before Mr Robinson removed the dual controls and took over piloting for crocodile-egg collecting. A photograph shown to the jury was a selfie taken by Mr Wilson of him flying the chopper on the day of the crash, with Mr Robinson apparently asleep next to him. Mr Edwardson, who has previously labelled Mr Robinson a "party animal", said if he had "had a bender" he would have been happy for Mr Wilson to pilot the chopper while he slept in the passenger seat. "That's an accusation," Mr Robinson replied. 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 seriously injured in a deadly crash while flying one of reality TV star Matt Wright's helicopters has admitted supplying cocaine but denies flying high or failing to fuel up. Sebastian Robinson was left 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 Wright, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Prosecutors allege the TV star 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 is giving evidence by video link from his wheelchair. The 32-year-old has previously admitted using cocaine about twice a year before the crash. But defence counsel David Edwardson KC on Thursday read out text messages police extracted from Mr Robinson's mobile phone, detailing regular exchanges with friends about supplying the drug. The messages from November 2018 to August 2021 were from friends asking him if he was "getting more coke" or could he "get good stuff for Chrissy party" and did he have "some Charlie". One message read "footy players in town and want bags", with Mr Edwardson asking Mr Robinson whether he had planned to supply them with cocaine. Mr Robinson said he could not recall that message, adding he had never flown helicopters while high. In response to Mr Edwardson's line of questioning, he said: "Are you implying that I'm a drug dealer? No." In another exchange, Mr Robinson said he was "crook as a dog" with a friend texting back, "snorting too much coke out of Matty's arse". Wright chuckled in the dock when the message was read out. Mr Robinson has vigorously denied the helicopter crashed because it ran out of fuel. The jury heard he told an NT Police investigator in 2022: "I can guarantee you I did not run out of fuel ... that's not what caused the accident, it was full from the croc farm." Mr Edwardson submitted that if it was proved the aircraft ran out of fuel, Mr Robinson knew he would be "in the crosshairs", facing blame and charges over the crash and Mr Wilson's death. "If you failed to fill up the aircraft and, as a consequence, it ran out of fuel and fell out of the sky, the buck would stop with you," the barrister said. "That must have been a terrifying thought for you." "Yes, it was a concerning thought," Mr Robinson replied. "I just did not want to be blamed for running out of fuel when in my heart I know that didn't happen." Mr Robinson, who was not a qualified flight instructor, agreed he had allowed Mr Wilson, a trainee pilot, to fly with him on helicopters fitted with dual controls despite that being illegal and Wright disallowing it. Mr Wilson had flown the chopper on the day of the crash before Mr Robinson removed the dual controls and took over piloting for crocodile-egg collecting. A photograph shown to the jury was a selfie taken by Mr Wilson of him flying the chopper on the day of the crash, with Mr Robinson apparently asleep next to him. Mr Edwardson, who has previously labelled Mr Robinson a "party animal", said if he had "had a bender" he would have been happy for Mr Wilson to pilot the chopper while he slept in the passenger seat. "That's an accusation," Mr Robinson replied. 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 seriously injured in a deadly crash while flying one of reality TV star Matt Wright's helicopters has admitted supplying cocaine but denies flying high or failing to fuel up. Sebastian Robinson was left 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 Wright, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Prosecutors allege the TV star 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 is giving evidence by video link from his wheelchair. The 32-year-old has previously admitted using cocaine about twice a year before the crash. But defence counsel David Edwardson KC on Thursday read out text messages police extracted from Mr Robinson's mobile phone, detailing regular exchanges with friends about supplying the drug. The messages from November 2018 to August 2021 were from friends asking him if he was "getting more coke" or could he "get good stuff for Chrissy party" and did he have "some Charlie". One message read "footy players in town and want bags", with Mr Edwardson asking Mr Robinson whether he had planned to supply them with cocaine. Mr Robinson said he could not recall that message, adding he had never flown helicopters while high. In response to Mr Edwardson's line of questioning, he said: "Are you implying that I'm a drug dealer? No." In another exchange, Mr Robinson said he was "crook as a dog" with a friend texting back, "snorting too much coke out of Matty's arse". Wright chuckled in the dock when the message was read out. Mr Robinson has vigorously denied the helicopter crashed because it ran out of fuel. The jury heard he told an NT Police investigator in 2022: "I can guarantee you I did not run out of fuel ... that's not what caused the accident, it was full from the croc farm." Mr Edwardson submitted that if it was proved the aircraft ran out of fuel, Mr Robinson knew he would be "in the crosshairs", facing blame and charges over the crash and Mr Wilson's death. "If you failed to fill up the aircraft and, as a consequence, it ran out of fuel and fell out of the sky, the buck would stop with you," the barrister said. "That must have been a terrifying thought for you." "Yes, it was a concerning thought," Mr Robinson replied. "I just did not want to be blamed for running out of fuel when in my heart I know that didn't happen." Mr Robinson, who was not a qualified flight instructor, agreed he had allowed Mr Wilson, a trainee pilot, to fly with him on helicopters fitted with dual controls despite that being illegal and Wright disallowing it. Mr Wilson had flown the chopper on the day of the crash before Mr Robinson removed the dual controls and took over piloting for crocodile-egg collecting. A photograph shown to the jury was a selfie taken by Mr Wilson of him flying the chopper on the day of the crash, with Mr Robinson apparently asleep next to him. Mr Edwardson, who has previously labelled Mr Robinson a "party animal", said if he had "had a bender" he would have been happy for Mr Wilson to pilot the chopper while he slept in the passenger seat. "That's an accusation," Mr Robinson replied. 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 seriously injured in a deadly crash while flying one of reality TV star Matt Wright's helicopters has admitted supplying cocaine but denies flying high or failing to fuel up. Sebastian Robinson was left 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 Wright, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Prosecutors allege the TV star 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 is giving evidence by video link from his wheelchair. The 32-year-old has previously admitted using cocaine about twice a year before the crash. But defence counsel David Edwardson KC on Thursday read out text messages police extracted from Mr Robinson's mobile phone, detailing regular exchanges with friends about supplying the drug. The messages from November 2018 to August 2021 were from friends asking him if he was "getting more coke" or could he "get good stuff for Chrissy party" and did he have "some Charlie". One message read "footy players in town and want bags", with Mr Edwardson asking Mr Robinson whether he had planned to supply them with cocaine. Mr Robinson said he could not recall that message, adding he had never flown helicopters while high. In response to Mr Edwardson's line of questioning, he said: "Are you implying that I'm a drug dealer? No." In another exchange, Mr Robinson said he was "crook as a dog" with a friend texting back, "snorting too much coke out of Matty's arse". Wright chuckled in the dock when the message was read out. Mr Robinson has vigorously denied the helicopter crashed because it ran out of fuel. The jury heard he told an NT Police investigator in 2022: "I can guarantee you I did not run out of fuel ... that's not what caused the accident, it was full from the croc farm." Mr Edwardson submitted that if it was proved the aircraft ran out of fuel, Mr Robinson knew he would be "in the crosshairs", facing blame and charges over the crash and Mr Wilson's death. "If you failed to fill up the aircraft and, as a consequence, it ran out of fuel and fell out of the sky, the buck would stop with you," the barrister said. "That must have been a terrifying thought for you." "Yes, it was a concerning thought," Mr Robinson replied. "I just did not want to be blamed for running out of fuel when in my heart I know that didn't happen." Mr Robinson, who was not a qualified flight instructor, agreed he had allowed Mr Wilson, a trainee pilot, to fly with him on helicopters fitted with dual controls despite that being illegal and Wright disallowing it. Mr Wilson had flown the chopper on the day of the crash before Mr Robinson removed the dual controls and took over piloting for crocodile-egg collecting. A photograph shown to the jury was a selfie taken by Mr Wilson of him flying the chopper on the day of the crash, with Mr Robinson apparently asleep next to him. Mr Edwardson, who has previously labelled Mr Robinson a "party animal", said if he had "had a bender" he would have been happy for Mr Wilson to pilot the chopper while he slept in the passenger seat. "That's an accusation," Mr Robinson replied. 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.
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Perth Now
Netflix star's pilot supplied cocaine to mates: court
A young pilot has admitted to supplying cocaine to party with his mates and footy players, while also flying small amounts of booze into Aboriginal communities, a jury has heard. Former helicopter pilot for Outback Wrangler Matt Wright, Sebastian Robinson has denied being a 'drug dealer' after being questioned in court about a series of texts about his wild partying with mates and footy players. Mr Robinson was the sole survivor of a helicopter crash during a crocodile egg collecting mission in a remote section of the Northern Territory on February 28, 2022. His friend and Outback Wrangler star, Chris 'Willow' Wilson was killed in the crash – and three years on, Mr Robinson remains a paraplegic. 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 Their boss, Matt Wright, pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice during the investigation into the crash. Mr Wright has been accused of attempting to hide the under reporting of flight hours. However his defence senior counsel David Edwardson has accused the young pilot of attempting to escape the blame for the catastrophic crash. On Thursday Mr Edwardson accused Mr Robinson of 'sourcing and supplying' the drug from 2018, to the time of the crash. 'You would, from time to time, source cocaine and provide it to your friends and those who wanted to party with you,' Mr Edwardson said. Mr Edwardson read aloud messages from the pilot's friends asking 'are you getting more coke?', 'Seb any chance you know where to get the good stuff?' and 'anyone got bags?'. In one message exchange Mr Robinson told a friend he was 'crook as a dog', with his mate replying 'snorting too much coke out of Matty's arse?'. Outback Wrangler Matt Wright and his wife Kaia Wright approaching the Supreme Court in Darwin on Thursday August 14. NewsWire / Pema Tamang Pakhrin Credit: NewsWire Mr Robinson said this friend also knew Mr Wright, to which Mr Edwardson said: 'You certainly know Matt Wright has nothing to do with cocaine'. 'Are you telling me you've been snorting cocaine out of Matt Wright's arse?' the lawyer continued. 'No, I'm just saying (he) obviously knows Matt,' Mr Robinson said. Mr Edwardson has previously stated that the reality television star had a 'zero tolerance' approach to drugs. The former pilot was also grilled about a message sent to a mate in November 2019, saying there were 'footy players in town wanting bags'. Outback Wrangler Matt Wright and his wife Kaia Wright alongside his Defence Senior Counsel David Edwardson KC approaching the Supreme Court in Darwin on Thursday August 14. NewsWire / Pema Tamang Pakhrin Credit: NewsWire Mr Edwardson asked if this was in relation to the Richmond AFL team seeking cocaine while in town, but Mr Robinson said he could not recall who he was messaging about. Mr Edwardson also questioned Mr Robinson about texts about 'zingers' and 'pills', but the former pilot said he could not remember the context of the messages. 'Are you implying I'm a drug dealer? … No,' Mr Robinson said. The young former pilot said his mates would sometimes pay him for the drugs, but said at the time he did not believe he was 'trafficking' as it was only a 'very minimal' amount. However Justice Alan Blow explained: 'Look, it is trafficking, even if you're not making any money for yourself.'. 'If you buy some drugs and pass them on to someone else who reimburses you, that's trafficking as far as the law's concerned,' Justice Blow said. After having this explained by the judge, Mr Robinson said 'I understand now'. Mr Robinson said these messages were extracted over an eight-year period, and has told the jury he only used cocaine 'a couple times a year'. Mr Robinson had previously admitted he deleted items from his phone prior to being questioned by crash investigators. On Thursday Mr Edwardson asked Mr Robinson if he removed any messages about his cocaine use, or being intoxicated while flying. Mr Robinson rejected this, stating: 'If I was going to delete something, wouldn't I have deleted it all?'. Trace amounts of cocaine were detected in the pilot's blood, which prosecutor Jason Gullaci said experts were likely to say was from use days before the crash. On Thursday, Mr Robinson — who suffered a traumatic brain injury in the crash — said he had no memory of a mutual friend's birthday party from two days before the incident. 'I have no recollection of the days, the week prior to the accident,' he said. Mr Robinson admitted to flying in booze to remote communities, but said he did not sell the alcohol. He said 'on occasion' he would take a small amount of alcohol under the seat of his chopper for people who worked in Arnhem Land. Pilot Sebastian Robinson during filming of Kane Chenoweth's documentary Sky Cowboy in February 2022. Credit: Supplied A video played to the court showed Mr Robinson pouring a mug of Bundaberg rum for a friend and Indigenous ranger in Arnhem Land, and another where he said his friend was 'f--king stoned'. Mr Robinson denied he provided the cannabis, stating: 'There's marijuana all throughout Maningrida'. He maintained that videos of him smoking prior to the crash showed him using tobacco, not cannabis. The cross examination of Mr Robinson is expected to continue on Thursday.
West Australian
8 hours ago
- West Australian
Matt Wright trial: Chopper crash survivor Seb Robinson grilled over cocaine texts in court
A young pilot has admitted to supplying cocaine to party with his mates and footy players, while also flying small amounts of booze into Aboriginal communities, a jury has heard. Former helicopter pilot for Outback Wrangler Matt Wright, Sebastian Robinson has denied being a 'drug dealer' after being questioned in court about a series of texts about his wild partying with mates and footy players. Mr Robinson was the sole survivor of a helicopter crash during a crocodile egg collecting mission in a remote section of the Northern Territory on February 28, 2022. His friend and Outback Wrangler star, Chris 'Willow' Wilson was killed in the crash – and three years on, Mr Robinson remains a paraplegic. Their boss, Matt Wright, pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice during the investigation into the crash. Mr Wright has been accused of attempting to hide the under reporting of flight hours. However his defence senior counsel David Edwardson has accused the young pilot of attempting to escape the blame for the catastrophic crash. On Thursday Mr Edwardson accused Mr Robinson of 'sourcing and supplying' the drug from 2018, to the time of the crash. 'You would, from time to time, source cocaine and provide it to your friends and those who wanted to party with you,' Mr Edwardson said. Mr Edwardson read aloud messages from the pilot's friends asking 'are you getting more coke?', 'Seb any chance you know where to get the good stuff?' and 'anyone got bags?'. In one message exchange Mr Robinson told a friend he was 'crook as a dog', with his mate replying 'snorting too much coke out of Matty's arse?'. Mr Robinson said this friend also knew Mr Wright, to which Mr Edwardson said: 'You certainly know Matt Wright has nothing to do with cocaine'. 'Are you telling me you've been snorting cocaine out of Matt Wright's arse?' the lawyer continued. 'No, I'm just saying (he) obviously knows Matt,' Mr Robinson said. Mr Edwardson has previously stated that the reality television star had a 'zero tolerance' approach to drugs. The former pilot was also grilled about a message sent to a mate in November 2019, saying there were 'footy players in town wanting bags'. Mr Edwardson asked if this was in relation to the Richmond AFL team seeking cocaine while in town, but Mr Robinson said he could not recall who he was messaging about. Mr Edwardson also questioned Mr Robinson about texts about 'zingers' and 'pills', but the former pilot said he could not remember the context of the messages. 'Are you implying I'm a drug dealer? … No,' Mr Robinson said. The young former pilot said his mates would sometimes pay him for the drugs, but said at the time he did not believe he was 'trafficking' as it was only a 'very minimal' amount. However Justice Alan Blow explained: 'Look, it is trafficking, even if you're not making any money for yourself.'. 'If you buy some drugs and pass them on to someone else who reimburses you, that's trafficking as far as the law's concerned,' Justice Blow said. After having this explained by the judge, Mr Robinson said 'I understand now'. Mr Robinson said these messages were extracted over an eight-year period, and has told the jury he only used cocaine 'a couple times a year'. Mr Robinson had previously admitted he deleted items from his phone prior to being questioned by crash investigators. On Thursday Mr Edwardson asked Mr Robinson if he removed any messages about his cocaine use, or being intoxicated while flying. Mr Robinson rejected this, stating: 'If I was going to delete something, wouldn't I have deleted it all?'. Trace amounts of cocaine were detected in the pilot's blood, which prosecutor Jason Gullaci said experts were likely to say was from use days before the crash. On Thursday, Mr Robinson — who suffered a traumatic brain injury in the crash — said he had no memory of a mutual friend's birthday party from two days before the incident. 'I have no recollection of the days, the week prior to the accident,' he said. Mr Robinson admitted to flying in booze to remote communities, but said he did not sell the alcohol. He said 'on occasion' he would take a small amount of alcohol under the seat of his chopper for people who worked in Arnhem Land. A video played to the court showed Mr Robinson pouring a mug of Bundaberg rum for a friend and Indigenous ranger in Arnhem Land, and another where he said his friend was 'f--king stoned'. Mr Robinson denied he provided the cannabis, stating: 'There's marijuana all throughout Maningrida'. He maintained that videos of him smoking prior to the crash showed him using tobacco, not cannabis. The cross examination of Mr Robinson is expected to continue on Thursday.
