URGENT UPDATE: The mother of a helicopter pilot severely injured in a fatal crash has denied allegations that she and her family fabricated claims against reality TV star Matt Wright to protect her son. The explosive developments come as Wright stands trial in the Darwin Supreme Court, having pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The trial centers around a tragic incident that occurred in February 2022, where Wright’s friend and co-star, Chris “Willow” Wilson, was killed during a crocodile-egg collecting mission in the Northern Territory. Pilot Sebastian Robinson, aged 32, suffered life-altering injuries and is now paraplegic.
Wright is accused of encouraging Robinson to falsify flying-hour records, fearing that crash investigators would uncover discrepancies involving disconnected flight-time meters and fraudulent paperwork. Importantly, the prosecution does not allege Wright caused the crash or is responsible for Wilson’s death or Robinson’s injuries.
On Tuesday, Robinson’s mother, Noelene Chellingworth, testified that Wright visited her son in Royal Brisbane Hospital just 11 days after the crash. During that visit, she claims Wright urged Robinson to transfer flying hours from the crashed helicopter to his own. “Sebastian said that he would think about it,” she stated, but when Wright returned two days later, Robinson told him he was “not comfortable” with the idea.
Chellingworth recounted a tense moment where she observed Wright standing over her son, instructing him to “delete, delete, delete” messages from his phone. “When I asked Wright why he was making demands, he just brushed me off,” she said, adding that she felt Wright wasn’t genuinely concerned for Robinson’s well-being.
In cross-examination, defense counsel David Edwardson KC challenged Chellingworth’s account, suggesting that Wright merely intended to help Robinson update his paperwork as he was flying under Wright’s air operator’s certificate. The jury learned that Robinson’s flight records were outdated, raising questions about their validity.
Edwardson further accused the Chellingworth family of colluding to shift blame onto Wright to shield Robinson from accountability. Chellingworth vehemently rejected this claim, asserting, “I do not agree at all.” She did, however, admit that her son had previously asked her to procure marijuana and that she had occasionally forged his signature for his helicopter business.
The courtroom drama intensified as Zaccarie Chellingworth, Robinson’s brother and a licensed aircraft engineer, was also questioned about the interactions between Wright and Robinson. He confirmed that Wright suggested taking 15 to 20 hours off the crashed helicopter to account for unlogged hours. Under pressure, he acknowledged that crash investigators suspected fuel exhaustion may have contributed to the accident.
When asked about Robinson’s past cocaine use, Zaccarie insisted his brother was neither an addict nor a dealer, noting he had only seen him use the substance once at a party on Wright’s boat.
The trial, filled with emotional testimonies and high stakes, continues on Wednesday. As the case unfolds, the implications could reshape the lives of those involved, highlighting the profound impact of this tragic event. Stay tuned for further updates as this developing story progresses.
