The scorned wife of a police officer involved in the ‘Outback Wrangler’ helicopter crash has been fired from her senior police job over a string of alleged offenses, including threatening to kill her husband’s mistress .
Former Master Sergeant Sandi-Lee Mellon, 47, learned that her husband, Acting Master Sergeant Neil Mellon, had a two-year affair with his ex-beauty queen best friend Narelle Jose, on August 25 last year.
She then allegedly went to Ms. Jose’s house, threw a basketball cart to the ground and shouted, “I’m going to kill you, Narelle.” Don’t worry, when you least expect it, you sh*t, I’ll get you.’
Earlier in the day, police raided his house and charged Mr Mellon with 32 offenses relating to the fatal helicopter crash six months earlier in West Arnhem Land that claimed the star’s life reality TV star Chris “Willow” Wilson.
His charges include attempting to pervert the course of justice, theft, unlawful access to data as well as the alleged destruction of evidence as part of an investigation into a major accident.
Today Ms Mellon lost her job as head of the NT Water Police Unit over her own alleged involvement in the aftermath of the accident.
She was charged with six alleged disciplinary violations related to sharing confidential information about the helicopter crash and the alleged illegal possession of saltwater crocodile skulls.
Narelle Jose (left) is pictured with Sandi Mellon (right) at a Christmas reception during their three-year friendship
Neil Mellon (pictured outside his Darwin home) had a two-year affair with his wife’s best friend.
Deputy Commissioner Bruce Porter served Ms Mellon with a final notice of “public interest termination” on September 8 after she appealed her dismissal in March, The Australian reported.
The first violation alleged that Ms. Mellon called her off-duty husband on February 28 and told him about the helicopter crash that had only been reported to police minutes earlier.
Following the call, Mr Mellon traveled to the crash site with Outback Wrangler Matt Wright, the helicopter’s owner.
The disciplinary breach notice stated that Mr Mellon was not on duty at the time and had no reason to receive the information.
Mr Mellon, Wright and pilot Michael Burbidge were each charged with criminal offenses as part of the crash investigation.
They are yet to enter pleas, with their cases due for preliminary hearing in Darwin Local Court in December.
Ms Mellon’s other violations include allegedly failing to report her husband’s alleged possession of unsecured ammunition, prohibited weapons, fireworks and saltwater crocodile skulls allegedly found in their home during the police raid in August.
Outback Wrangler Matt Wright, pictured with his wife Kaia, is due in court in December.
Matt Wright pictured arriving at Darwin Local Court in November amid charges linked to the helicopter crash investigation
It was also reported that Deputy Commissioner Porter said there was CCTV of the time Ms Mellon allegedly entered Ms Jose’s property, threw a basketball cart and threatened to kill her on August 25, 2021 .
She then allegedly sent a text message to Ms Jose, which said: “Hey, you’re going to get yours, don’t worry.”
“Actually, you should be worried.”
Daily Mail Australia previously revealed Ms Jose had lodged an apprehended violence order against Ms Mellon, but it was withdrawn for unknown reasons following a mention in court on October 18.
In a sworn statement, Ms Jose – who is married with two children – admitted she and Mr Mellon began having an affair a year after meeting through mutual friends.
“Ms. Mellon and I have been very close friends for three years,” she said in the affidavit.
“Two years ago, Neil Mellon and I began having an affair. Neil Mellon is Mrs. Mellon’s husband.
In her appeal against her dismissal from the police force, Ms Mellon argued she was under “immense stress” following her husband’s arrest and discovery of his affair.
Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson (pictured) was an intrepid crocodile egg collector in the Netflix show, Outback Wrangler
Pictured: The scene of a helicopter crash that killed Chris Wilson in February 2021
Mr Porter admitted there were stressors in his life, but said that did not diminish the seriousness of his alleged conduct.
He said the dismissal involved a “high standard of proof” but that he believed it was also in the public interest to terminate his employment.
Ms Mellon described her dismissal to The Australian as a “witch hunt”, partly because she served in the force for 28 years and her record was otherwise untarnished.
She denied knowledge of ammunition, prohibited weapons, fireworks or crocodile skulls, and said it was “misogynistic” to assume that she would have seen the ammunition because it was located next to the washing machine.
She filed a formal complaint in October against police officials and accused them of intimidation and failing to care for her mental health.
“I am being punished for daring to denounce the executive and file an official complaint,” she said.
The criminal charges against Ms Mellon will be mentioned in Darwin Local Court on September 28.
