Jury ready to hear evidence in croc-wrangler Matt Wright’s trial as the Netflix star insists he is innocent

The jury in celebrity croc-wrangler Matt Wright’s criminal trial has been sworn in as the reality television star insists he is not guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice following the fatal chopper crash that killed his Netflix co-star Chris Wilson.

In the Northern Territory Supreme Court on Tuesday, in front of the jury pool, Mr Wright re-entered his pleas of not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

More than 100 locals had turned up to the Darwin courthouse at 2pm for jury selection but half were almost immediately excused after declaring they knew either Mr Wright, Mr Wilson, Mr Wilson’s widow Danielle, one of the witnesses or a lawyer involved in the high-profile case.

By Tuesday evening, eight male and four female – as well as two female reserve jurors – had been selected and sworn in, paving the way for the Crown’s opening address to be delivered on Wednesday morning.

Mr Wright’s charges relate to his alleged actions after the helicopter accident that killed 34-year-old 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.

The Outback Wrangler host had already entered pleas to the charges 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 long-awaited trial.

“I think we started with 107 jury members,” the semi-retired judge said on Tuesday.

“I think I’ve excused half of them and we’re still going.”

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 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.

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 on Tuesday by his wife Kaia and some of the couple’s friends.

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

The single-mum arrived at court alone on Tuesday.

The trial is expected to run for between three and five weeks.