- Netflix star to plead not guilty to perverting the cause of justice
- The trial will not begin until 2025
Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright’s lawyer has told the High Court that Wright will plead not guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice after a helicopter crash killed his friend and co-star Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson in 2022.
Wright’s attorney, Frank Marenda, told the court Thursday that prosecutors had been formally notified of the planned plea and the case was now “ready to go to trial.”
Northern Territory News reported Following discussions between his instructing lawyers and Crown prosecutor Steve Ledek, Mr Marenda estimated the trial would last three months and is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2025.
“Of course we will continue to debate, but the position is ultimately that this matter will go to trial,” he said.
In December last year, Wright was committed to trial on the single charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice, with six other charges still before the Local Court.
The charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice relates to circumstances allegedly taking place after the helicopter crash in West Arnhem Land, in which Mr Wilson died and pilot Sebastian Robinson was seriously injured.
The other charges include one count of threatening or intimidating helicopter pilot Sebastian Robinson, one count of making a false statement, one count of fabricating evidence, one count of destroying evidence and two counts of unlawful entry.
Mr Marenda requested that the case be included in an administrative hearing, saying there were still “controversial points of law” to be determined “relating to the admissibility of some evidence”.
Netflix star Matt Wright’s trial is expected to last up to three months
The trial could potentially be postponed until 2026, as Associate Justice Vince Luppino said there was no judge who had three months available.
“I’ll have to make some inquiries and possibly make special arrangements for that kind of duration, so I’ll be putting the matter off for that reason,” he said.
“I think what will ultimately happen is that someone from the sheriff’s office here will reach out to you and Mr. Ledek to establish liaisons to see what can be agreed upon that might also be appropriate for the court.”
“But as I said, I suspect the court will have to make special provisions for that in any case.”
More to come.