The trial of reality TV personality Matt Wright, who faces charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice following a deadly helicopter accident, has once again been postponed. The incident, which occurred in February 2022, resulted in the death of Wright’s close friend, Chris "Willow" Wilson, a fellow star of the show Outback Wrangler. Wilson tragically lost his life while suspended from the helicopter during a mission to retrieve crocodile eggs.
Originally scheduled for jury selection on Thursday, the case has now been rescheduled by Acting Justice Allan Blow for August 5 in the Supreme Court of Darwin. This timing ensures that jury selection will take place after the Picnic Day public holiday on August 4.
The commencement of the trial has experienced numerous delays, with ongoing pre-trial legal discussions set to continue this week. On Monday, Wright entered a plea of not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice, involving allegations of tampering with evidence linked to violations of aviation maintenance regulations. The trial is anticipated to last up to four weeks, during which approximately 25 witnesses are expected to testify.
A report from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau concluded that the helicopter crashed into a paperbark swamp near the King River due to an engine failure caused by insufficient fuel. The accident not only claimed Wilson’s life at the age of 34 but also left pilot Sebastian Robinson, 28, with severe injuries.
In the Northern Territory, the maximum penalty for attempting to pervert the course of justice is 15 years in prison. Wright gained recognition as a prominent figure on National Geographic’s Outback Wrangler and the Netflix series Wild Croc Territory.