A multi-millionaire crocodile wrangler and property tycoon star of popular streaming shows has been jailed for almost a year after his co-star’s death.
Outback Wrangler and Wild Croc Territory host Matt Wright, whose series have been seen on Netflix and Amazon Prime, has been sentenced for interference in a criminal investigation into the death of fellow presenter Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson.
Wright, who was accompanied to court throughout the trial by his model wife Kaia, was found guilty of trying to cover up evidence following the February 2022 crash that killed Mr Wilson and left pilot Sebastian Robinson a paraplegic.
The 47-year-old was sentenced to 10 months behind bars by Acting Justice Alan Blow in the Supreme Court in Darwin, Australia, on Friday.
Wright was convicted on two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice following a month-long Northern Territory Supreme Court trial in August.
Wright was accused of lying to crash investigators about the amount of fuel in the machine, of trying to get Mr Robinson to falsify flying hours and of asking a friend to “torch” the helicopter’s maintenance release.
Prosecutors sought a jail term for Wright but his defence lawyers wanted a non-custodial sentence and are pursuing an appeal against his guilty verdicts.
Acting Justice Blow sentenced Wright to 10 months in prison, suspended after he serves five months – and he was also fined $5,000 on a charge of lying to police.
The maximum penalty for attempting to pervert the course of justice is 15 years’ jail.
A jury found Wright guilty on August 29 this year on the first two counts but could not reach agreement on the third accusation.
Prosecutors alleged Wright was worried investigators would learn his chopper’s flying-hour meters were regularly disconnected to extend hours beyond official thresholds, with paperwork falsified to match.
The prosecution did not allege Wright caused the chopper crash, the death of Mr Wilson nor Mr Robinson’s injuries.
The group were on a crocodile egg collecting mission in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, with Mr Wilson slung on a 30m line below the chopper to be dropped on to nests in remote swampland.
The Air Transport Safety Bureau concluded the helicopter ran out of fuel, causing the engine to fail and the aircraft to plummet.
Wright was found guilty of lying to crash investigators about the amount of fuel in the machine and of trying to pressure Mr Robinson to falsify flying hours.
Speaking outside court after the verdicts in August, Wright told reporters there were ‘no winners’ from the trial.
Flanked by his wife Kaia, he said: ‘The ordeal has been incredibly tough on everyone and it’s always been hard to understand why the focus of these investigations has been solely on me and not into the cause of the crash.
But he was criticised by both Mr Wilson’s widow Dani and Mr Robinson, the injured pilot.
Mr Wilson, 34, died as he dangled under a helicopter while collecting eggs from croc-infested swamps in the Northern Territory’s remote Arnhem Land in February 2022.
Ms Wilson told reporters outside court that Wright had attempted to pervert the course of justice and in doing so ‘denied a complete, thorough and unimpeded investigation into the crash’.
Her two sons would soon spend their fourth Father’s Day without their father, she said, adding: ‘Once again there will be an empty seat at the table, a constant reminder of all that has been taken from us.’
Mr Robinson’s brother Zac Chellingworth read a statement from the pilot saying the verdicts brought some closure for the family, adding: ‘But the scars of the defendant’s conduct are huge and permanent.’
Mr Robinson said the trauma for his family had been relentless as he learned to live in a wheelchair, the wounds made worse by the defendant’s cover-up and failure to tell the truth.
‘I also faced a malicious and sustained campaign of lies aimed at destroying my reputation and that of my family. The jury saw the truth.’
Ms Wilson is pursuing a civil case against Wright and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority over the crash that killed her husband.
Wright’s follow-up shows after Crocodile Wrangler have included Netflix series Wild Croc Territory, featuring his wife Kaia and their young son Banjo.
It showcased their life in the Northern Territory and his crocodile catching hobby.
Wright and his model wife Kaia, 34, are said to be worth around $10million after building up a huge business empire on the back of Outback Wrangler’s success.
His lead role in the TV show, which began in 2011, is believed to have earned him at least $250,000 a season before he launched his Netflix and Channel Nine spin-off.
Wild Croc Territory featured Wright not only as the main star but also in a lucrative executive producer role alongside his agent Nick Fordham, boosting his payday.
But the first season of the show in 2022 was derailed by Wilson’s death, and the second season due to be broadcast in 2023 has never been seen.
The accident also threatened Wright’s endorsement deals, with companies including Great Northern Beer and Casio’s G-Shock watches ditching him from campaigns.
Wright had appeared alongside Mr Wilson in several ads for the beer during his six year tie up with the Carlton and United Breweries brand until he was shelved.
His wife Kaia announced in September this year that the couple are due to welcome their third baby next April.
Kaia, who sat through her husband’s trial while pregnant while keeping the news secret from the media beforehand, said: ‘It’s a huge blessing during what has been a hellish time of media onslaught and ongoing bullying.
‘It’s brought my focus back to what is good, true and beautiful, and that’s our family; it’s what really matters.’
The couple have owned five luxury Airbnb properties around the Darwin area called ‘Freshwater Retreat’, costing up to $2,000 each for a minimum two-night stay.
His other enterprises have included Tiwi Island Retreat, part of an island complex 80km off Darwin’s north coast, as well as tourist attraction Top End Safari Camp.
