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Outback Wrangler star’s big win in court: Matt Wright returns home and his bail conditions are eased as he fights to clear his name for the helicopter crash that killed his partner
- Some of the Outback Wrangler’s bail conditions were eased
- The judge ruled that Matt Wright does not have to wear an electronic monitor
- You can contact four associates previously in order without contact
Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright is not required to wear an electronic ankle monitor as part of his bail conditions as he faces charges in a helicopter crash that killed his partner.
The noted wildlife warrior, 43, is charged with seven felonies after the accident claimed the life of his TV co-star Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson in the Northern Territory.
Wilson was collecting crocodile eggs in a remote area of West Arnhem Land when the Robinson R44 helicopter he was hanging from collided with trees and fell to the ground on February 28 last year.
Wright has since been charged with a variety of charges, including destruction of evidence and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The matter returned to Darwin Local Court on Wednesday, where Wright’s lawyer, Giles O’Brien-Hartcher, fought to have some of his client’s bail conditions eased.
It also sought to remove nine associates from Wright’s 46-person no-contact order.
The court heard that Wright returned to his Top End home a week ago to run his adventure and tourism business operations ahead of the upcoming peak season.
Matt Wright (pictured with wife Kaia) no longer has to wear an electronic ankle monitor after recently returning to the Northern Territory
He has spent the last six months living in Queensland with his wife Kaia and their two young children.
The court heard that Wright wanted to return freely to NT, a request the Crown granted on the condition that he use an electronic monitoring device to protect the ‘sanctity’ of the evidence. the aussie informed.
“Protection from witness interference goes to the heart of the prosecution that we are prosecuting in the first instance,” prosecutor Steve Ledek told the court.
Wright’s lawyer argued that an ankle monitor was a “restriction of freedom that serves no purpose” and that his client did not intend to violate the conditions.
Judge Richard Wallace agreed.
“It does not appear to me that there is any justification for compromising Mr. Wright’s privacy in this way,” he said.
Instead, he ordered Wright to give police 12 hours notice before changing his residential address.
Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright (pictured recently in court) was recently charged with seven felony counts in connection with a fatal helicopter crash last February.
Wright’s close friend and TV co-star Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson (pictured) was tragically killed in a helicopter crash during an alligator egg collecting mission nearly a year ago.
Wright can now contact four business associates who were previously on the no-contact list.
Five more names are expected to be removed from the no-contact list at the next preliminary examination citation in March.
Wright has been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, destroy evidence, fabricate evidence, trespassing, trespassing, making a false statement, and interfering with witnesses in a criminal investigation or judicial proceeding by means of threats/retaliation. .
Wright has previously strenuously denied any wrongdoing in connection with the accident.
This month marks one year since Chris Wilson’s helicopter crashed into trees and crashed to the ground during a crocodile egg recovery mission in West Arnhem Land.
He was tied to a line using a harness so he could collect eggs from crocodile nests in swampy areas as the helicopter hovered overhead.
Matt Wright (pictured with his wife Kaia) can also now contact four associates who were previously on a no-contact list
Multiple investigations continue into what happened before, during and after the fatal helicopter crash.
The NT police investigation is expected to be completed in early March.
Wright and two other men charged in connection with the crash are due to reappear in court on March 8.
Wright became a household name more than a decade ago as the star of the National Geographic Channel series. Outback Wrangler, which has since aired in nearly 100 countries.