Outback fighter Matt Wright has been accused of trying to hide part of his multi-million dollar fortune from the widow who is suing over the death of her husband who was Wright’s TV sidekick .
Father-of-two Chris “Willow” Wilson died in a helicopter crash in King River, Northern Territory, during a crocodile egg collecting trip on February 28, 2022.
The devastating crash left pilot Sebastian Robinson paraplegic and Wright faces criminal charges in connection with the tragedy.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) found the helicopter likely ran out of fuel and Mr Wilson died in a fatal fall when the harness he was hanging from beneath the plane came loose.
The ATSB report criticizes the safety management system of the Wright-led helicopter company Helibrook, as well as the risk management carried out by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
Mr Wilson’s widow Danielle is suing Helibrook and CASA and a hearing in the Federal Court in Sydney was held on Friday to determine whether Wright should be personally added to the claim and his considerable assets frozen.
Ms Wilson’s legal team argued that Wright’s interest in her Tiwi Island Retreat, a “glamping” resort off the NT coast, had been transferred to a trust since the incident and that a Much of his assets could be placed beyond the reach of any court order in Ms. Wilson’s estate. service.
Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright (pictured with his wife Kaia) ran Helibrook which operated the helicopter on which Chris Wilson was suspended from a harness to collect crocodile eggs.
In another case, police allege Wright went to the crash site with three other people and interfered with evidence at the crash scene (pictured) in an attempt to disrupt the course of the justice.
Tiwi Island Retreat, located on Bathurst Island northwest of Darwin, bills itself as an “unparalleled wilderness experience” where interstate and international guests have the choice of staying in beachfront villas and luxury tents. glamping”.
As well as a range of leisure and sightseeing facilities, there is a restaurant and bar serving dishes “accented by Asian spices and bush tucker” and featuring an open fire and smokehouse where guests are encouraged to help cook their own seafood.
Helibrook and Mr Wright’s lawyer, Darryn Kelly, argued that his client’s transfer of his stake in Tiwi Island Retreat was “business as usual” and that upon extensive searches of ASIC documents, no No other example of similar transfers has been found.
He argued Ms Wilson’s team needed to establish there had been a deliberate and “sinister” attempt by Mr Wright to hide assets, which was not the case.
“Otherwise we would have this in any case, in fact I’m going to sue you, so you should now be required to present evidence of your assets and convince me that you won’t do anything with it,” Mr. . said Kelly.
Mr Wright transferred his interest in Tiwi Island Retreat (pictured) off Darwin to a trust which Mr Wilson’s widow’s legal team said was an attempt to “frustrate the court”.
The resort is located on Bathurst Island, in the Tiwi Islands group, and bills itself as an “unparalleled wilderness experience”.
Judge Raper sided with Mr Wright’s lawyer and said there was no evidence to show Mr Wright was trying to move his assets beyond the reach of the court.
Judge Elizabeth Raper sided with Mr Kelly and refused the order to freeze Mr Wright’s assets, saying there was limited evidence that he had tried to “thwart” any potential judgment.
“I am not satisfied that, in the course of these ordinary transactions, sufficient evidence was before me to make this order,” she said.
She also noted that the transfer of interest in Tiwi Island Retreat took place well before Mr Wright became aware of Ms Wilson’s civil case, which she launched late last year.
The question of whether Mr Wright should be personally added as a party to the claim has been adjourned and will return to court on April 10.
Mr Kelly told the court his client did not owe a legal duty of care to Mr Wilson, whether by reason of his ownership of the helicopter or for any other reason.
“There was no relationship between the men to create a duty of care,” he said.
Mr Kelly compared the helicopter in question to owning a motor vehicle, which he said does not create a duty of care in relation to its use.
Ms Wilson is seeking costs, damages, interest, interest on costs and “such other orders as the court considers appropriate” for the psychological harm caused by the alleged conduct.
Chris Wilson (pictured with widow Danielle) starred in the shows Outback Wrangler and Wild Croc Territory with Mr Wright
His late companion and co-star Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson (pictured) appeared in several Great Northern adverts alongside Matt Wright before being killed in a helicopter crash in February 2022.
“(She) suffered nervous shock and/or psychiatric disorders and loss of maintenance and support from Mr. Wilson during her lifetime,” her petition to the court states.
The helicopter’s pilot, Sebastian Robinson, was seriously injured in the crash but survived.
An Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation found the helicopter’s engine shut down mid-flight due to a lack of fuel.
During the subsequent emergency landing, Mr Robinson released the helicopter’s hooks and sling before it crashed to the ground.
Wright and his airline Helibrook face a series of criminal and civil charges in the Northern Territory following the fatal crash.
His friend, revered NT pilot Michael Burbidge, was first at the crash scene before being joined by Wright and former senior police officer Neil Mellon.
The three men were later all charged with perverting the course of justice and destroying evidence.
Burbidge later pleaded guilty to destroying Mr Wilson’s mobile phone, while Wright will stand trial in the NT Supreme Court for perverting the course of justice.
Six other charges, including tampering with evidence and threatening Mr Robinson, have yet to be heard, but Wright denies any allegations of wrongdoing.