Insane number of prospective jurors summoned for Outback Wrangler host Matt Wright’s Northern Territory trial

The number of prospective jurors summoned for selection in Outback Wrangler host Matt Wright’s criminal trial has ballooned as the high-profile Top End proceedings finally get underway.

About 400 Darwin locals have been summonsed to attend the Northern Territory Supreme Court this afternoon where a dozen, plus two reserve jurors, will be impanelled for the approximately month-long trial.

Typically, 300 people are summoned for a jury trial in the NT.

The Nightly understands that, in this case, 400 ordinary citizens have been summoned because the defendant may be known to a lot of people.

In addition to this, more potential jurors are usually summoned when the trial is expected to be long.

Last week the celebrity croc-wrangler was arraigned and formally pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Mr Wright’s charges relate to his alleged actions after a fatal chopper crash that killed his reality television 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 in February 2022.

The 45-year-old is accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to the investigation into the fatal crash on three occasions.

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.

Mr Wright, who operates multiple Top End tourism ventures, entered his pleas last week but jury selection was delayed as the top silks involved in the case thrashed out legal issues.

The Nightly cannot publish any evidence heard in courtroom two of the Darwin Supreme Court building last week due to suppression orders over information that was ventilated in the absence of a jury.

Acting Justice Alan Blow, a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania, is presiding over the trial.

The semi-retired judge is eager for jury selection to be completed on Tuesday afternoon so that the prosecution can deliver its opening address on Wednesday.

Barrister Jason Gullaci SC, of Parnell’s Barristers in Melbourne, and his instructing solicitor Kate Thomas are prosecuting the case on behalf of the NT’s Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr Gullaci has had only four weeks to digest the three-year police investigation and prepare for the long-awaited trial after agreeing, in June, to take on the case at very short notice.

Mr Wright 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.

The reality television star is expected to formally enter his pleas again on Tuesday before the jury is empanelled.

Swathes of potential jurors from the tight-knit Darwin community are expected to be excluded from jury service during Tuesday’s selection process due to their possible connections to those involved in the case.

In the NT, both the Crown and accused are also able to challenge or stand aside a potential juror without cause, excluding them from serving on the jury.

About 25 witnesses are scheduled to start giving evidence from Thursday.

Witnesses expected to be called include Mr Robinson, who was critically injured in the crash, and his relatives.

Those who attended the crash site on the day it happened, including pilots Michael Burbidge and Jock Purcell, Darwin publican Mick Burns, former police officer Neil Mellon, and crocodile egg collectors Tim Luck and Ty Richardson, are also expected to give evidence.

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

And the officer in charge of the NT Police investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Corey Borton, and other officers who have worked on the case, will likely testify.

Mr Wright, who still runs a number of Top End tourism ventures, rose to fame starring in National Geographic’s Outback Wrangler and Netflix series Wild Croc Territory.

He was supported in court each day last week by his wife Kaia and some of the couple’s friends, who all wore black in solidarity.

Wilson left behind his wife Danielle and their two young sons, Ted and Austin.

The single-mum attended court alone every day last week.