Sebastian Robinson, three others, and a company face serious charges in the Darwin Local Court over the alleged unauthorized taking of crocodile eggs from Kakadu National Park in February 2024. The prosecution has requested the case be moved to the Supreme Court, citing the alleged seriousness of the offense.
The prosecution alleges the operation involved "the hundreds" of eggs, a helicopter, and had a significant impact on traditional owners.
The case is scheduled to return to court in October.
Charges and Accused
The following individuals and entity have been charged:
- Sebastian Robinson: Charged with the "unauthorised taking" of crocodile eggs.
- Timothy Luck: Charged with the same offense.
- Dean Larsen: Charged with the same offense.
- Stephen Slark: Charged with the same offense.
- SDRL Pty Ltd, operating as Kinga Contracting: Faces one count of fraud. At the time of the alleged offense, Robinson and Larsen were listed as directors of the company.
Court Proceedings
The case was heard in the Darwin Local Court. Prosecutor Ruth Champion stated that the Northern Territory's Director of Public Prosecutions is seeking to have the case progressed to the Supreme Court. Champion cited the following factors for this request:
- The alleged sophistication and complexity of the operation.
- The number of eggs allegedly taken, described by Champion as "in the hundreds."
- The alleged impact on traditional owners.
- The number of co-accused.
- The use of a helicopter.
Champion noted that the maximum term of imprisonment for this offense in the Local Court is 12 months.
Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris stated that local courts in the Northern Territory frequently handle cases involving vehicles like helicopters, drawing a parallel to illegal fishing cases.
The court granted an application from Robinson's lawyers to cross-examine 10 witnesses before any potential committal to the Supreme Court. These witnesses include Northern Territory pilot Mick Burbidge and Australian Federal Police officer Ben Owens.
Background: 2022 Helicopter Crash
Robinson and Luck were involved in a crocodile egg collecting mission in February 2022 that resulted in a fatal helicopter crash in Arnhem Land, approximately 500 kilometers (310 miles) east of Darwin. The crash resulted in the death of television personality Chris "Willow" Wilson and serious injuries to Robinson, who was piloting the helicopter. Robinson sustained injuries including paraplegia and a traumatic brain injury.
Related Legal Actions: Matt Wright
Matt Wright, a co-star of Wilson's on the Netflix series Outback Wrangler, was convicted on two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice related to investigations into the 2022 crash.
Charges and Evidence
In August, a jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts for the following charges:
- Providing false information to police: Prosecutors alleged Wright made inaccurate statements regarding the fuel level in the helicopter's tank. Secret recordings of Wright's conversations were presented as evidence.
- Attempting to influence a hospitalized witness: Wright was accused of visiting Robinson in the hospital and asking him to modify flight records concerning the hours the aircraft had flown. The prosecution contended that Wright sought to conceal a practice of altering official flying hours to avoid costly maintenance.
A third charge, alleging Wright asked an individual to "torch" evidence, resulted in a deadlocked jury and remains under court consideration.
The legal proceedings did not address the direct cause of the crash, Wilson's death, or Robinson's injuries. Wright was not charged with causing the crash.
Sentencing
Acting Justice Alan Blow imposed a 10-month prison sentence on Wright, with five months suspended. He was also fined A$5,000 ($3,300; £2,500).
Justice Blow noted Wright's lack of remorse but stated he was unlikely to reoffend significantly. Mitigating factors cited included Wright's community contributions and character references. The maximum penalty for the charges was 15 years. Wright's legal team has stated their intent to appeal the verdicts. Wright was released from prison after serving five months.
Related Information: Michael Burbidge
Michael Burbidge, who is listed as a witness for cross-examination in the current case, was fined $15,000 in 2024 for disposing of Wilson's phone after the 2022 crash.
Next Steps
The case is scheduled to return to court in October. The court has yet to decide whether it will proceed in the Local Court or be committed to the Supreme Court.