Prosecutors within the case towards superstar crocodile wrangler Matt Wright will make an utility to fluctuate his bail situations by “three phrases” on Friday, the Darwin Native Courtroom has heard.
Key factors:
- Matt Wright will search a change to his bail situations
- Former police officer Neil Mellon additionally utilized for a variation to his dance
- Darwin Native Courtroom heard “extra materials” from prosecutors was but to come back
Mr Wright didn’t must attend court docket for Wednesday’s preliminary listening to, when his case was talked about alongside these of former police officer Neil Mellon and helicopter pilot Michael Burbidge.
All three are going through a collection of costs in connection to an investigation right into a helicopter crash in February 2022, that killed Outback Wrangler star Chris “Willow” Wilson.
Mr Wright’s lawyer, Giles O’Brien Hartcher, instructed the court docket an utility could be made later this week to fluctuate the 43-year-old’s bail situations, however didn’t specify what the proposed modifications have been.
The court docket heard prosecutors would search to take away “three phrases” from the strict situations binding Mr Wright.
Mr Wright was charged in November 2022 with making an attempt to pervert the course of justice, destruction of proof, fabricating proof, two counts of illegal entry and making a false assertion.
His lawyer has beforehand indicated that he “strenuously denies” any wrongdoing and was not on board the helicopter when it crashed throughout an operation to gather crocodile eggs in a distant a part of Arnhem land.
The instances towards Mr Wright, Mr Mellon and Mr Burbidge have been adjourned for six weeks after the court docket heard the “pretty in depth” temporary of proof was nonetheless being compiled.
Crown prosecutor Collette Dixon instructed the court docket the investigations have been ongoing, and Mr O’Brien Hartcher mentioned he understood it was doubtless there could be “extra materials coming”.
Mr Wright’s case will return to court docket on Friday for a bail variation utility.
Former police officer seeks return of passport to go on cruise
The court docket heard Mr Mellon, a former senior Northern Territory Police officer additionally charged in connection to the crash, wished to have his passport returned so he might go on a cruise and “discover work alternatives” in Singapore.
Mr Mellon faces costs throughout two separate court docket recordsdata, one in all which is expounded to the crash investigation.
His barrister, Sally Ozolins, made an utility for Mr Mellon’s bail to be assorted to permit him to go on a cruise that was booked in 2020 and delayed a number of occasions on account of COVID-19.
“It is scheduled to go forward in March,” Ms Ozolins mentioned.
“It will be of nice value to the household if that would not go forward.”
Ms Ozolins argued Mr Mellon was not a “flight danger” as he had already traveled interstate twice whereas on bail and was a “long-term” Darwin resident with a home and household connections to the NT.
“He has attended court docket every time he’s required, however the frenzy that goes on,” she mentioned.
Ms Ozolins instructed the court docket Mr Mellon was exploring fly-in fly-out work alternatives in Singapore however didn’t have any particular paperwork to indicate it, as there was “no level” in progressing functions with out a passport.
The court docket additionally heard Mr Mellon wished to have distinguished Darwin lawyer Ray Murphy faraway from the listing of individuals he was unable to contact.
“Mr Murphy is at the moment engaged by my shopper’s spouse in relation to some authorized issues, which, it could appear, he’ll want to have the ability to talk with Mr Murphy in relation to his spouse’s matter and welfare issues arising from that,” Ms Ozolins mentioned.
The court docket heard the prosecution’s assertion of alleged info made a reference to Mr Mellon “disclosing info” to Mr Murphy.
Ms Ozolins mentioned: “Proof to substantiate these allegations has not been disclosed.”
“In any occasion, the allegations come up on account of some type of telecommunication intercept, once more, which hasn’t been disclosed to us,” she mentioned.
Decide Greg MacDonald didn’t make a ruling on the applying for Mr Mellon’s bail to be assorted, as an alternative telling Ms Ozolins and Crown prosecutor Collette Dixon to debate the problems exterior of court docket.
“I need counsel to go and talk about it and work out if there may be frequent floor,” Mr MacDonald mentioned.
Helicopter pilot Michael Burbidge’s matter was additionally talked about within the Darwin Native Courtroom on Wednesday and adjourned together with Mr Wright and Mr Mellon’s issues.
All three instances will return to court docket on March 8 for a preliminary examination point out.
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