Television Personality Sentenced Over Evidence Tampering in Helicopter Crash Case

A Northern Territory court has sentenced television personality Matt Wright to a partially suspended prison term for charges related to evidence tampering following a 2022 helicopter crash. The crash resulted in the death of his co-star, Chris "Willow" Wilson, and left the pilot, Sebastian Robinson, with severe injuries. The legal proceedings focused on Wright's actions after the incident, not the cause of the crash itself.

Sentencing and Charges

On Friday, Acting Justice Alan Blow sentenced Matt Wright to a 10-month prison term, with five months suspended. Wright was also fined A$5,000.

The judge noted Wright's lack of remorse but indicated he was unlikely to reoffend significantly. The maximum penalty for the charges is 15 years in prison.

Wright's legal team has stated an intention to appeal the verdicts.

In August, a jury found Wright guilty on two charges:

• Making false statements to police.
• Attempting to pervert the course of justice by pressuring a hospitalized witness.

A third charge, alleging Wright asked someone to destroy maintenance records, resulted in a deadlocked jury and remains under consideration by the courts.

The 2022 Helicopter Crash

The case stems from a helicopter crash in February 2022 in Arnhem Land, approximately 500km east of Darwin.

• Chris "Willow" Wilson, Wright's co-star on the show "Outback Wrangler," died after falling from a sling attached to the helicopter during a crocodile egg harvesting trip.
• The pilot, Sebastian Robinson, sustained injuries including punctured lungs and a brain injury.
• Matt Wright was not on board the aircraft but was among the first to arrive at the crash site.

The trial did not determine the cause of the crash, Wilson's death, or Robinson's injuries.

Evidence Presented at Trial

Prosecutors alleged Wright provided false information to police about the helicopter's fuel levels at the time of the crash. Secret recordings of Wright's conversations were presented, which prosecutors stated contradicted his claim that the fuel tank was half full.

Prosecutors also alleged Wright visited Robinson in the hospital and pressured him to alter flight records. They argued this was an attempt to conceal an alleged practice of modifying official flying hours to avoid expensive maintenance.

Industry Practices and Pilot Testimony

The trial revealed that a practice known as "pop the clock"—disconnecting a meter that records flight hours to delay maintenance—was described as common within the Northern Territory's helicopter community. The prosecution contended Wright feared his involvement in this practice would be blamed for the crash.

Wright's defense acknowledged under-reporting flight hours was common but argued his actions did not constitute perverting the course of justice.

During testimony, pilot Sebastian Robinson stated he had no memory of the crash. He conceded that he "must have intentionally disconnected" Wilson's sling, describing it as best practice in an emergency. Investigators determined Wilson died from a 25-meter fall.

A blood sample from Robinson showed traces of cocaine, reported to be below the "prescribed amount for enforcement" under aviation rules. Robinson denied an allegation from another pilot witness that described him as a "raging cocaine junkie."