Outback Wrangler Matt Wright pleads not guilty: 300 called in for jury selection after Chris Wilson's death

An entire day has been set aside to select a jury for the high-profile trial of a celebrity croc-wrangling Netflix star in Australia’s Top End, due to the anticipated challenge of finding a dozen Darwin locals with no connection to anyone involved.

On Monday, in the Northern Territory Supreme Court, Outback Wrangler host Matt Wright 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.

Wilson, who was suspended beneath the aircraft on a 100-foot line, died after falling from the helicopter before it hit the ground 40m away from him.

The 34-year-old left behind wife Danielle and their two young sons, Ted and Austin.

On Monday, Mr Wright arrived at the Darwin Supreme Court building, hand-in-hand with wife Kaia and flanked by his legal team, just before 10am.

Moments earlier, Wilson’s widow Danielle arrived alone.

When court began, Mr Wright entered the dock for the first time to be arraigned before Acting Justice Alan Blow, from Tasmania, who is presiding over the proceedings.

The 45-year-old stood as Acting Justice Blow’s associate read the particulars of each charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

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.

After reading aloud each charge, the judge’s associate asked the accused: “how do you plead?”

Mr Wright, who operates multiple Top End tourism ventures, quietly responded “not guilty” to each count.

Under section 109 of the NT Criminal Code, a person who attempts to obstruct, prevent, pervert or defeat the course of justice is guilty of an offence and is liable to imprisonment for 15 years.

Pre-trial argument will resume on Tuesday morning before the jury is selected on Wednesday.

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

Jury selection normally takes a couple of hours but in this instance a full day has been allocated, with opening addresses expected to be delivered on Thursday. This is believed to be due to the difficulty of finding 12 people within the close-knit community with no links to anyone involved in the case.

Barrister Jason Gullaci SC, of Parnell’s Barristers in Melbourne, is prosecuting the case on behalf of the NT’s Director of Public Prosecutions.

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 trial is expected to run for four weeks and hear from about 25 witnesses, who will start giving evidence by the end of this week.

Witnesses expected to be called include Mr Robinson and crocodile egg collectors who were on the fateful mission.

Some of them have been granted permission to give evidence via an audio visual link.

Mr Robsinon’s mother, Noelene Chellingworth, who was by his side in hospital after he suffered critical injuries, will be the first witness called.

Mr Wright declined to speak to the media outside of court.