27-07-2025
The trial of celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright starts this week. Here's what we know
Three years ago, a helicopter carrying television personality Chris "Willow" Wilson and pilot Sebastian Robinson crashed in remote Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.
Mr Wilson, 34, was killed, leaving behind his wife, Danielle Wilson, and their two young children.
Mr Robinson, who was 28 at the time, survived, but suffered permanent injuries.
This week, the criminal trial of the victim's close friend and Outback Wrangler co-star, Matthew Wright, begins in the NT Supreme Court in Darwin.
Mr Wright is facing three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice, in relation to the aftermath of the accident.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.
Mr Wright first rose to stardom on National Geographic's Outback Wrangler — a TV program delving into the wild world of crocodile wrangling in the NT and giving a glimpse into Mr Wright's family life.
A second program starring Mr Wright, Wild Croc Territory, aired on Netflix in 2022.
The show was pulled from the platform following Mr Wilson's death.
The 45-year-old father-of-two is also behind NT adventure tourism company Wild Territory, which offers helicopter rides, airboat tours and accommodation.
The helicopter accident occurred on February 28, 2022, during a crocodile egg-collecting mission on the King River, west of Maningrida, in an isolated part of the Top End.
Crocodile egg collecting involves a helicopter able to carry a crew member, or "sling person", who is lowered from the chopper via a long line to access crocodile nests.
The three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice that Mr Wright is facing relate to events which allegedly occurred in the aftermath of the accident.
Details about what the allegations include will not be revealed until later in the week, when the prosecution and the defence give their opening arguments before a jury.
Mr Wright has previously denied any wrongdoing.
No, Mr Wright has never formally entered a plea.
This will happen on Monday when Mr Wright is arraigned — a court proceeding where an accused person has their charges read to them and is asked how they want to plea.
They can respond "guilty" or "not guilty".
The trial is expected to run for at least three weeks, but it won't start straight away.
Mr Wright's legal team and the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) have requested a few days for legal argument before a jury is selected on Wednesday.
The jury empanelment process can take a long time, so it's unlikely that any evidence will be heard until Thursday.
Representing the DPP will be Melbourne silk Jason Gullaci SC.
He has indicated that Mr Robinson is likely to be one of the first witnesses to give evidence at the trial.
During a pre-trial hearing, Mr Gullaci said the Crown intended to call two witnesses to "set the scene" before Mr Robinson would be called.
Mr Wright is being represented by prominent South Australian barrister David Edwardson KC and Luke Officer.
The trial will be heard before Acting Justice Alan Blow.
Mr Wilson's wife and parents have been granted permission to listen to the court proceedings from outside the courtroom via an audio-visual link.
During a hearing earlier this month, Mr Gullaci told the judge Ms Wilson was invested in the proceedings but, due to delays in the trial getting underway, may not be able to attend court in person for the full three weeks.
