Celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright has been found guilty on two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice following a month-long Supreme Court trial in Darwin.<\/p>\n
Wright, known for hit television shows Wild Croc Territory and Outback Wrangler, was charged in the aftermath of a 2022 helicopter crash that occurred during a crocodile egg-collecting mission in remote Arnhem Land.<\/p>\n
Wright’s friend and co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson was killed and the pilot, Sebastian Robinson, sustained life-altering injuries.<\/p>\n
After deliberating, the jury unanimously found Wright guilty of attempting to obstruct the crash investigation by lying to police, and asking the injured pilot to falsify flight records.<\/p>\n
There was an audible gasp from Wright’s supporters when the verdict was read out, and the defendant slumped in his seat.<\/p>\n
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Matt Wright says he is disappointed with the jury’s verdict and plans to appeal it. (ABC News: Michael Parfitt)<\/p>\n
The jury did not return a verdict on a third charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice, and has now been discharged.<\/p>\n
The third charge relates to an allegation Wright directed an associate to destroy the maintenance records of the helicopter involved in the fatal crash.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Friday, the jury told Acting Justice Alan Blow they were deadlocked on that charge, but had come to a verdict on the other two charges.<\/p>\n
Wright was released on bail after the jury returned its verdict just after 1pm on Friday.<\/p>\n
Wright ‘pretty disappointed’ in verdict<\/p>\n
Speaking outside court, Wright said he was “pretty disappointed in the verdict” and would be appealing.<\/p>\n
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“It’s been a long fight and we’ve got an appeal in process now, and we’ll keep moving forward with this,” he said.<\/p>\n
“It’s been devastating for everyone involved.<\/p>\n
“It’s definitely tough, very tough on the family.”<\/p>\n
He maintained that “we always had safe helicopters”, but conceded disconnecting Hobbs meters \u2014 which record a chopper’s flight hours \u2014 was a practice “you do see across the industry from time to time” in the NT.<\/p>\n
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Matt Wright, who has been supported in court each day by his wife Kaia, had pleaded not guilty to all three counts. (ABC News: Michael Parfitt)<\/p>\n
‘A long and painful journey’<\/p>\n
Danielle Wilson, Mr Wilson’s widow, has been attending the proceedings on each day of the four-week trial.<\/p>\n
Speaking outside court on Friday afternoon, she said the day marked “an important moment in a long and painful journey”.<\/p>\n
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Danielle Wilson’s husband Chris “Willow” Wilson was killed in the 2022 helicopter crash. (ABC News: Michael Parfitt)<\/p>\n
“We are now approaching the fourth Father’s Day that my two young sons [are] facing without their dad,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Once again, there will be an empty seat at the table, a constant reminder of all that has been taken from us.<\/p>\n
“That is our reality, and it is a pain that we live with every single day. It does not go away.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Ms Wilson said she “respected the decision by the court”, saying it was “clear from evidence that a thorough criminal investigation [had] been carried out”.<\/p>\n
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“It has been about the conviction of an individual who attempted to pervert the course of justice, and in doing so denied a complete, thorough and unimpeded investigation into the crash \u2014 an investigation that could have provided my two young sons with the answers that they so much deserve,” she said.<\/p>\n