Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright intends to enter into a plea deal over allegations he tampered with evidence following a fatal chopper crash that killed TV co-star Chris Wilson.
Lawyers for Mr Wright informed the Northern Territory Supreme Court last Thursday, they are negotiating with prosecutors after Mr Wright was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, according to reports by NT News.
The charge relates to the aftermath of the helicopter crash that claimed the life of Mr Wilson, who plunged to his death on an egg-collecting mission to the croc-infested swamps of Northern Territory’s west Arnhem Land on February 28, 2022.
The father-of-two was hanging in a sling on a lifeline 30m below a helicopter piloted by Seb Robinson, when crash investigators believe the chopper ran out of fuel.
Mr Wright was not present when the crash occurred but travelled to the site after hearing the chopper went down.
The charge is not linked to Mr Wilsons death but Mr Wright is accused of perverting the cause of justice by allegedly destroying evidence after the chopper crashed.
Matt Wright (pictured centre) still intends to enter into a plea deal over allegations he tampered with evidence following a fatal helicopter crash that killed fellow television presenter Chris Wilson
In a separate case Mr Wright has also been charged with failing to comply with health and safety duties and reckless conduct risking death or injury following a Worksafe NT Investigation.
The Worksafe probe led to Wright and his company Helibrook being charged in February ‘over their failures to maintain safe aircraft and allowing the aircraft to be operated when unsafe’.
A NT WorkSafe spokesperson said an investigation ‘found sufficient evidence to allege Helibrook Pty Ltd and Mr Wright engaged in conduct intended to falsify the actual number of flight hours accrued by the aircraft in the Helibrook fleet over an extended period of time’.
Wright’s company owned the helicopter that was being used in the egg collecting mission when Mr Wilson was killed.
Mr Wilson (pictured right) plunged to his death on an egg-collecting mission to the croc-infested swamps of Northern Territory’s west Arnhem Land, in 2022
Mr Wright is also facing a civil case, filed by Mr Wilson’s widow Danielle Wilson.
Ms Wilson is suing Wright and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for alleged ‘wrongful acts or omissions’ that caused or contributed to her husband’s death.
Wright had previously stated that he hoped his remaining criminal charges would be dropped , once negotiations into the charge of perverting the course of justice were completed.
That case has been adjourned and the matter will next be heard in the Northern Territory Supreme Court on August 1.
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