The criminal trial of television personality Matt Wright is drawing significant attention as the pilot involved in a fatal helicopter crash provided pivotal testimony regarding Wright’s actions following the incident. The crash occurred during a crocodile egg-collecting trip in Arnhem Land in 2022, resulting in the death of their friend Chris “Willow” Wilson. While neither Wright nor the pilot, Sebastian Robinson, has been accused of wrongdoing related to the crash, Wright faces three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in connection with alleged cover-up efforts regarding the accident.
During proceedings at the Northern Territory Supreme Court, Robinson testified that Wright was unable to participate in any crocodile egg-collecting missions in the 2022 season due to being unvaccinated against COVID-19. He characterized Wright as an “anti-vaxxer,” which prohibited him from traveling to Arnhem Land.
Robinson, who sustained catastrophic injuries that left him paraplegic, recounted his recovery following the crash. He revealed that Wright visited him in the hospital and allegedly deleted notes and texts from his phone during that visit. Wright is accused of asking Robinson to “manipulate” flight hours to obscure record-keeping discrepancies related to the crash.
Details of the Hospital Visit
Robinson described his condition during the hospital stay as disorienting. “I was hallucinating, I was seeing things that weren’t there, I was in very bad shape,” he stated. He recounted that during Wright’s visit, he was presented with an arrangement of documents and asked whether he would consider transferring flight hours from Wright’s helicopter to his own, despite the fact that Robinson’s aircraft was not configured for egg collecting.
“I was still in a pretty bad way, very confused and knew something wasn’t right,” Robinson testified. He indicated that he ultimately felt uncomfortable with Wright’s request. “I told him I didn’t feel comfortable doing it,” Robinson said, adding that Wright did not appear upset with his response.
The court proceedings included a detailed cross-examination by Wright’s defense barrister, David Edwardson KC. Robinson acknowledged having brought small amounts of alcohol onto Aboriginal land, but denied supplying alcohol or any other substances to local Indigenous communities.
Conflicting Accounts and Ongoing Trial
Robinson admitted to not fully disclosing information to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau during an interview shortly after the crash, stating, “obviously I didn’t tell the truth entirely but you know, I panicked.” This admission raised questions about the reliability of his earlier statements regarding the helicopter’s maintenance.
The prosecution is focusing on the events surrounding the crash and the implications of Wright’s alleged actions afterward. As the trial continues, the jury will examine both the circumstances of the crash and the interactions between Robinson and Wright in the aftermath.
The proceedings are set to resume in Darwin on Thursday, where further testimony and evidence will be presented, continuing to shine a light on the events that led to the tragic helicopter crash and the subsequent legal implications for Wright.
