Latest news with #ArnhemLand
The Australian
2 hours ago
- The Australian
Outback Wrangler Matt Wright: NT Supreme Court trial faces delay
A celebrity croc wrangler and reality television star will have to wait another week before facing the jury for his high-profile crash conspiracy trial. On Wednesday, Matt Wright was told his jury would only be selected next Tuesday, six days after his NT Supreme Court trial was anticipated to begin. The 45-year-old Netflix reality television star of Outback Wrangler has pleaded not guilty to three allegations of attempting to pervert the course of justice following the death of his co-star Chris 'Willow' Wilson three years ago. The 34-year-old father was killed after his helicopter crashed into a paperbark swamp at the King River in Arnhem Land on February 28, 2022. Matt Wright with his defence instructing solicitor Luke Officer, left, and supported by his wife Kaia Wright approaching the Supreme Court in Darwin on Tuesday July 30. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin Mr Wilson was dangling in a sling from a Robinson R44 during a crocodile egg collecting mission when the chopper went down, killing him and critically injuring his 28-year-old pilot Sebastian Robinson. It is alleged that on three occasions over a seven month period Mr Wright attempted to compromise the investigation into the chopper crash. Mr Wright entered his pleas on Monday, but has faced repeated delays to start the four-week trial due to ongoing legal arguments On Wednesday, Justice Alan Blow said he did not want a jury to be selected, only for them to be left waiting over the Territory Picnic Day long weekend. 'We're not going to be ready to empanel the jury tomorrow,' Justice Blow said. 'If we are ready to empanel them on Friday, I don't want to because I don't want them to hear opening speeches and then go away for a three-day weekend.' He said he would advise the Supreme Court staff that the jury pool — which is expected to include hundreds of Territorians — would have to be called on Tuesday, August 5. Both prosecution and defence teams agreed with the decision to delay the hearing. Zizi Averill Journalist Zizi Averill is the police and crime reporter for the NT News, based up in Darwin. She previously worked as a journalist in Bendigo, Victoria and Mackay, Queensland. @ZiziAverill Zizi Averill
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Update in Netflix star's trial over fatal crash
A celebrity croc wrangler and reality television star will have to wait another week before facing the jury for his high-profile crash conspiracy trial. On Wednesday, Matt Wright was told his jury would only be selected next Tuesday, six days after his NT Supreme Court trial was anticipated to begin. The 45-year-old Netflix reality television star of Outback Wrangler has pleaded not guilty to three allegations of attempting to pervert the course of justice following the death of his co-star Chris 'Willow' Wilson three years ago. The 34-year-old father was killed after his helicopter crashed into a paperbark swamp at the King River in Arnhem Land on February 28, 2022. Mr Wilson was dangling in a sling from a Robinson R44 during a crocodile egg collecting mission when the chopper went down, killing him and critically injuring his 28-year-old pilot Sebastian Robinson. It is alleged that on three occasions over a seven month period Mr Wright attempted to compromise the investigation into the chopper crash. Mr Wright entered his pleas on Monday, but has faced repeated delays to start the four-week trial due to ongoing legal arguments On Wednesday, Justice Alan Blow said he did not want a jury to be selected, only for them to be left waiting over the Territory Picnic Day long weekend. 'We're not going to be ready to empanel the jury tomorrow,' Justice Blow said. 'If we are ready to empanel them on Friday, I don't want to because I don't want them to hear opening speeches and then go away for a three-day weekend.' He said he would advise the Supreme Court staff that the jury pool — which is expected to include hundreds of Territorians — would have to be called on Tuesday, August 5. Both prosecution and defence teams agreed with the decision to delay the hearing.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
TV reality star trial over chopper crash delayed again
The trial of reality TV star Matt Wright on charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice after a fatal outback helicopter crash has again been delayed. The February 2022 crash killed Wright's friend and Outback Wrangler TV show co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson, who was hanging from a sling under the chopper on a mission to collect crocodile eggs. A jury was set to be chosen on Thursday. But in the Supreme Court in Darwin on Wednesday, Acting Justice Allan Blow rescheduled the empanelment for August 5. It ensures the jury will be selected following a long weekend, with August 4 marking the Picnic Day public holiday in the territory. The start of the trial has been delayed several times and pre-trial legal argument before Justice Blow is set to continue this week. On Monday Wright pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice, accused of tampering with evidence to cover up non-adherence to aircraft maintenance rules. The trial is expected to take up to four weeks and hear from about 25 witnesses. An Australian Transport Safety Bureau report into the crash near the King River in Arnhem Land found the chopper's engine stopped mid-flight because of a lack of fuel. The crash into a paperbark swamp killed Mr Wilson, 34, and critically injured pilot Sebastian Robinson, 28. The charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice carries a maximum 15-year jail term in the NT. Wright rose to fame starring in National Geographic's Outback Wrangler and Netflix series Wild Croc Territory.
ABC News
2 days ago
- ABC News
Croc wrangler Matt Wright pleads not guilty
Andy Park: Celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. It comes more than three years after a chopper crash in remote Arnhem Land in the NT, which killed Mr. Wright's close friend and television co-star Chris Willow Wilson. ABC reporter Samantha Dick is there in the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. She joined me earlier. Samantha, what is the background to this case? Samantha Dick: Hi Andy. Well, Matt Wright is the star and host of popular Netflix series Wild Croc Territory and TV show Outback Wrangler, where he offers a glimpse into the world of crocodile wrangling in the Outback Northern Territory. Three years ago, that all changed when a crocodile egg collecting mission went horribly wrong. A helicopter carrying Mr. Wright's co-host and friend Chris Willow Wilson crashed in a remote part of Arnhem Land, about 500 kilometres from Darwin, killing Mr. Wilson and seriously injuring pilot Sebastian Robinson. The tragic incident, it shocked the Northern Territory and devastated Mr. Wilson's wife and two young kids, but it's really what came next that is the focus of this Supreme Court trial. Matt Wright is facing three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice over his alleged behaviour in the aftermath of Mr. Wilson's death. Details of the exact allegations won't be revealed until later in the week in Corsh, but attempting to pervert the course of justice, it's a serious criminal offence and it can include things like influencing witnesses or providing false information to authorities. It also carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. Andy Park: And what's the court heard today? Samantha Dick: Well, today, for the first time in months, Matt Wright attended court in person. So, we were waiting outside the Supreme Court of the NT up here in Darwin with a bunch of other journalists from around Australia. Matt Wright appeared, he entered the court, he was flanked by his wife and his lawyers. In court this morning, Mr. Wright was given the opportunity to formally enter a plea. He pleaded not guilty to all three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. This is not really surprising because Mr. Wright has previously denied any wrongdoing, but today really was the first opportunity for him to formally enter his pleas of not guilty. The trial is expected to run for at least three weeks. At the moment in court, lawyers are just having some further legal argument, ironing out a few things before court resumes this afternoon. Andy Park: What's expected in this case as we see it play out in the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory? Samantha Dick: The case is really going to get going later on in the week. So, on Wednesday, a jury is due to be empanelled. And on Thursday, we're going to start hearing some evidence. So, that's when we'll be hearing a lot more information about the actual details of the case, and we'll be hearing from witnesses in the courtroom. Andy Park: In the Northern Territory, reporter Samantha Dick.
ABC News
3 days ago
- ABC News
Celebrity croc wrangler pleads not guilty to charges
Celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright has pleaded not guilty in the Northern Territory Supreme Court to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. It comes more than three years after a chopper crash in remote Arnhem Land in the NT, which killed Mr Wright's close friend and television co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson in February 2022.
