Latest news with #JusticeBlow
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
How ACA nearly derailed Netflix star's trial
A Territory judge has savaged a national television program for airing 'unfair' coverage on the eve of the trial of reality star Outback Wrangler Matt Wright. The Aussie reality television star has pleaded not guilty to three allegations of attempting to pervert the course of justice, following the chopper crash death of his mate and co-star Chris 'Willow' Wilson three years ago. It took two hours for a jury pool of 107 Territorians to be whittled down into the final team of 12 jurors and two reservists on Tuesday. However overnight that careful selection process was put in jeopardy following the episode by A Current Affair. The segment was broadcast on A Current Affair. Credit: Supplied On Wednesday Justice Alan Blow ripped into the Channel Nine segment which he said threatened to 'abort' the high-profile celebrity trial. 'It was a piece of journalism that was aimed to suggest that Mr Wright is guilty of something — and that's not what TV journalists should be doing,' Justice Blow said. 'It's very important that Mr Wright gets a fair trial and watching that program could interfere with his right to a fair trial.' Justice Blow told the 12-person jury and two reservists that the program published a 'stale' witness list and a photo from the fatal helicopter crash site. 'This isn't a case about why the helicopter crashed,' he told the jury. 'It's not suggested that Mr Wright was responsible, in any way, for the crashing of the helicopter. 'If you watched the program, you might get the impression that he was responsible, and that he was guilty of something and that he's headed to jail for it. 'It was quite unfair and it created a danger of this trial having to be aborted.' Outback Wrangler Matt Wright and his wife Kaia Wright approaching the Supreme Court in Darwin. NewsWire/Pema Tamang Pakhrin Credit: News Corp Australia Only one juror out of the 14 members said he had watched the segment. Under questioning from Justice Blow, the juror said he would be able to remain impartial, and had not discussed the ACA show with any of his fellow jurors. Justice Blow then warned the remaining 13 Territorians to not try and access the program played on Tuesday night. 'It's an excellent example of what I told you not to do yesterday,' he said. 'Please don't try to find out about that program.' Both prosecutor Jason Gullaci and Defence senior counsel David Edwardson said they were comfortable with the current jury continuing. The trial continues.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Outback Wrangler Matt Wright's high-profile conspiracy trial nearly ‘aborted' following ‘unfair' A Current Affair episode
A Territory judge has savaged a national television program for airing 'unfair' coverage on the eve of the trial of reality star Outback Wrangler Matt Wright. The Aussie reality television star has pleaded not guilty to three allegations of attempting to pervert the course of justice, following the chopper crash death of his mate and co-star Chris 'Willow' Wilson three years ago. It took two hours for a jury pool of 107 Territorians to be whittled down into the final team of 12 jurors and two reservists on Tuesday. However overnight that careful selection process was put in jeopardy following the episode by A Current Affair. On Wednesday Justice Alan Blow ripped into the Channel Nine segment which he said threatened to 'abort' the high-profile celebrity trial. 'It was a piece of journalism that was aimed to suggest that Mr Wright is guilty of something — and that's not what TV journalists should be doing,' Justice Blow said. 'It's very important that Mr Wright gets a fair trial and watching that program could interfere with his right to a fair trial.' Justice Blow told the 12-person jury and two reservists that the program published a 'stale' witness list and a photo from the fatal helicopter crash site. 'This isn't a case about why the helicopter crashed,' he told the jury. 'It's not suggested that Mr Wright was responsible, in any way, for the crashing of the helicopter. 'If you watched the program, you might get the impression that he was responsible, and that he was guilty of something and that he's headed to jail for it. 'It was quite unfair and it created a danger of this trial having to be aborted.' Only one juror out of the 14 members said he had watched the segment. Under questioning from Justice Blow, the juror said he would be able to remain impartial, and had not discussed the ACA show with any of his fellow jurors. Justice Blow then warned the remaining 13 Territorians to not try and access the program played on Tuesday night. 'It's an excellent example of what I told you not to do yesterday,' he said. 'Please don't try to find out about that program.' Both prosecutor Jason Gullaci and Defence senior counsel David Edwardson said they were comfortable with the current jury continuing. The trial continues.
Sky News AU
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Supreme Court judge tears into 'unfair' A Current Affair story that aired on eve of Matt Wright's chopper crash trial: 'Not what journalists should be doing'
A judge has torn into Channel Nine for broadcasting a story on the eve of Crocodile wrangler Matt Wright's Supreme Court trial which gave 'the idea he is guilty of something and is going to jail'. Jury members were asked if they had watched the program, which aired on A Current Affair on Tuesday night, just hours after the jury in the trial had been empanelled. 'It seems clear that it was a piece of journalism that was aimed to suggest that Mr Wright is guilty of something and that's not what TV journalists should be doing,' Justice Alan Blow told the jury on Wednesday morning. 'It was a segment of a program that suggested that Mr Wright was guilty, screened on the night before his trial was getting underway. 'It had a list of witnesses. It's a stale list. It's not the same list (the prosecution) read out to you yesterday.' Wright is facing three charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice relating to his alleged actions after a chopper crash that killed his friend and Netflix co-star Chris 'Willow' Wilson. He has pleaded not guilty to all three counts. Justice Blow said the story on A Current Affair showed a photograph of the helicopter crash site in Arnhem Land with text showing what could be found at certain places in the bush. 'This isn't a case about why the helicopter crashed,' he told the jury. 'It's not suggested that Mr Wright is responsible in any way for the crashing of the helicopter. 'If you watched the program you might get the idea he is guilty of something and is going to jail for it. 'It was quite unfair and (could have seen) this trial aborted.' One of the 12 jurors told Justice Blow he had watched the program but said he still believed he could perform his role in an impartial way. Justice Blow allowed the trial to continue but warned jurors not to access the program. 'Please don't try to watch it,' he told the jury. 'It's very important Mr Wright gets a fair trial and watching it could interfere with a fair trial.' The trial continues.
