Celebrity croc-wrangler Matt Wright’s trial hits new snag as top silks fight it out in Territory Supreme Court

The high-profile Top End trial of celebrity croc-wrangler Matt Wright has hit a new snag, forcing jury selection to be delayed until next week, as the top silks involved thrash out legal issues.

During the third day of pre-trial legal argument in the Northern Territory Supreme Court on Wednesday, Acting Justice Alan Blow postponed jury selection until Tuesday.

The Nightly cannot publish any evidence that has been heard in courtroom two of the Darwin Supreme Court this week as there are suppression orders over information that is ventilated in the absence of a jury.

This comes after Mr Wright formally pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice on Monday.

Mr Wright’s charges relate to his alleged actions after a fatal chopper crash that killed his Netflix co-star Chris Wilson, and left pilot Sebastian Robinson paraplegic, more than three years ago.

Mr Wright owned — but was not flying — a Robinson R44, registered VH-IDW, which collided with terrain during a crocodile egg collecting mission at King River in West Arnhem Land on February 28, 2022.

Mr Wright, 45, is facing three charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to the investigation into the fatal crash.

Count one is alleged to have occurred on March 3 of 2022 in Darwin.

Count 2 is alleged to have occurred between March 3 and March 13 of 2022 in Darwin and elsewhere.

Count 3 is alleged to have occurred between September 21 and September 25 of 2022 in Darwin and elsewhere.

Each charge carries a maximum 15-year jail sentence.

Wilson left behind his wife Danielle and their two young sons, Ted and Austin. The single-mum arrived at court alone again on Wednesday.

Mr Wright arrived at court with his wife Kaia and his legal team. A small group of the couple’s supporters have been present at court each day.

The reality television star is represented by South Australian silk David Edwardson KC, of Adelaide’s Bar Chambers, and his instructing solicitor Luke Officer of Tindall Gask Bentley in Darwin.

Barrister Jason Gullaci SC, of Parnell’s Barristers in Melbourne, is prosecuting the case on behalf of the NT’s Director of Public Prosecutions after taking it on just last month. Kate Thomas is his instructing solicitor.

On Tuesday The Nightly revealed that the Crown’s witness list names almost 120 civilians, police officers and subject matter experts.

The list, prepared by the Director of Public Prosecutions, includes Mr Robinson — who was critically injured in the helicopter accident — and a number of his relatives.

Those who attended the crash site on the day it happened – including pilots Michael Burbidge and Jock Purcell, Darwin publican Mick Burns and former police officer Neil Mellon – are named.

Crocodile egg collectors Tim Luck and Ty Richardson are on the list.

Mr Wright’s former employees, tourists who flew in his choppers and cameraman Ashley Dunn, who was involved in filming his reality television shows, could also be called.

Dozens of police officers, who worked on the criminal investigation, are among the potential witnesses, along with medical and forensic experts.

Despite the long witness list, only about 25 of those named will be called to testify after a jury is empanelled on August 5.

There are no judge-alone trials in the NT Supreme Court and 300 ordinary citizens have been summoned to attend court on Tuesday where 12, plus two reserve jurors, will be selected to serve.

An entire day has been set aside to select a jury for the month-long trial due to the anticipated challenge of finding a dozen Darwin locals with no connection to anyone involved.

The trial is still expected to run for up to four weeks with the court calendar cleared until August 29 for this particular matter.