Celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright has been found guilty on two of three charges relating to his attempt to obstruct investigations into the 2022 helicopter crash that killed his co-star and mate Chris Wilson.
The jury returned its unanimous verdict on Friday, after six hours of deliberation, following a three-week trial that relied on evidence including secret recordings of Wright discussing the helicopter crash with his various associates and wife.
The jury found Wright guilty of the first two counts of attempting to perverting the course of justice, but were deadlocked on the third charge, which involved a recorded conversation prosecutors said Wright had with an associate in which he allegedly directed him to burn a helicopter maintenance document.
Charge one related to Wright lying to police in an interview about checking the fuel tanks at the scene of the helicopter crash on February 28, 2022, which secret recordings showed he had lied about the level of fuel in the tank.
Charge two related to Wright visiting crash survivor and pilot Sebastian Robinson in hospital and pressuring him to change flight records in an effort to hide the total amount of hours the crashed helicopter had flown.
None of the charges related to the cause of the crash.
Crown Prosecutor Jason Gullaci sought to have Wright taken into custody following the verdict.
“This matter has been before the courts for quite some time, he’s run a trial, which is his absolute right, but we’re in a position, your Honour, where he’s been found guilty of two serious charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice,” Mr Gullaci said.
“He’s no longer entitled to the presumption of innocence. The offending is serious and any offence of attempting to pervert the course of justice, the immediate starting point is that an actual term of imprisonment is to be served.”
Wright’s lawyer David Edwardson raised the matter of former NT police commissioner John McRoberts being found guilty of the same offence, which he claimed was “far more serious that what’s alleged here”. He noted bail had been granted to McRoberts pending sentencing.
Mr Edwardson also raised “the subject of a question of law that has been reserved to the Supreme Court” and that there “will be an appeal, certainly in relation to count 2, if not count 1 as well”. He also argued that Wright could serve the extent of his imprisonment before the appeal was settled.
Justice Blow said he was unsure “how quickly the Court of Appeal and counsel will be able to line the planets up and finalise this matter”.
“I think there’s a chance that the proceedings in the Court of Criminal Appeal … won’t reach the judgment stage this year. So, I think that the circumstances are special enough to warrant a grant of bail,” Justice Blow said.
Wright’s bail was extended on the same terms and conditions.
Wright told media outside court that he was “disappointed with the verdict” and that he would “keep moving forward with this, but it’s been devastating for everyone involved”.
He added while many families had been impacted by the crash, it “has been hard on my family, but we keep moving on and fight the fight”.
“There have been no winners out of it,” he said in a written statement. “Willow’s family have lost a father, husband, son and brother. We’ve lost a best mate. Seb is seriously injured and in a wheelchair.
“The ordeal has been incredibly tough on everyone and it’s always been hard to understand why the focus of these investigations have been solely on me and not into the cause of the crash.”
Evidence presented at the trial raised serious concerns about the NT’s helicopter industry, including that it was common practice for many pilots and operators to disconnect the Hobbs meter on their choppers in an effort to not record proper flight hours to delay important maintenance.
The Wright matter will be back in court on October 6.
Count three against Wright, in which the jury was unable to reach a verdict, has not been dismissed and will be sent back to the DPP to decide how to proceed.
Wright is asking why the focus is on him and not the cause of the crash. The cause has been muddied by Wrights attempts to change the truth about the maintenance and worthiness of the helicopter! He is neither dead or a paraplegic but sees himself as the victim! No sympathy for him.