Matt Wright is facing two further criminal charges in the Northern Territory Supreme Court following a fatal helicopter crash that killed his co-star Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson.
The TV personality and crocodile wrangler had been scheduled to front Darwin court in early July over one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
But during a pre-trial hearing via Teams on Wednesday, the charges changed.
A Director of Public Prosecutions spokesperson said Wright is facing three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice rather than one, News.com.au reported.
The charges are related to events which allegedly took place following the helicopter going down in West Arnhem Land in February 2022.
Mr Wilson plunged to his death in a remote area of the Northern Territory while dangling from a helicopter owned by Wright as he collected crocodile eggs.
He is survived by his wife Danielle and their two young sons.
The pilot, 28-year-old Sebastian Robinson, was seriously injured during the crash and has been left a paraplegic. Wright was not aboard the helicopter.
Crocodile wrangler Matt Wright (pictued) will face trial at the end of July over three charges of perverting the course of justice
Wright was charged with the offences following his alleged actions related to a helicopter crash in 2022 which killed his co-star Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson
Following the incident, Wright and his pilot Michael Burbidge were allegedly first on the scene, with former NT police officer Neil Mellon.
The three were later charged over their alleged actions following the crash.
Burbidge was fined $15,000 after he pleaded guilty to destruction of evidence, for disposing of Mr Wilson’s phone.
Mellon was sentenced to eight months behind bars after pleading guilty to offences including, six counts of disclosing confidential information, destroying evidence and obtaining a benefit by deception.
Charges against both men of attempting to pervert the course of justice were withdrawn.
Wright has consistently denied all allegations against him. His legal team declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
During the hearing, Justice Blow heard that the prosecution expected to call 56 witnesses for the eight-week trial, NT News reported.
Defence barrister Luke Officer told the court that it was ‘inconceivable’ to complete preparations within four weeks before the trial was due to begin.
It has been three years since Danielle’s husband Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson tragically died (both pictured)
Prosecutor James Moore argued the defence did not adequately engage when it was finalising the list of matters.
Justice Blow set the trial date to July 28.
Wright was also facing an additional six charges which are understood to have remained before the Local Court.
They include one count of menacing or intimidating chopper pilot Sebastian Robinson, one count of making a false declaration, one count of fabricating evidence, one count of destroying evidence and two counts of unlawful entry.
Wright is yet to enter pleas to those charges but, in a statement released in 2023, he said he was ‘hopeful the remaining charges will all be withdrawn once this charge (of perverting the course of justice) is dealt with’.
