Prosecutors within the case of famed crocodile wrestler Matt Wright will file a request on Friday to amend his bail phrases by “three phrases”, Darwin’s native court docket has heard.
Most vital factors:
- Matt Wright will attempt to change his bail circumstances
- Former police officer Neil Mellon additionally requested for his bail to be amended
- Darwin Native Court docket heard that “extra materials” was but to come back from prosecutors
Mr Wright was not required to attend the preliminary listening to on Wednesday, when his case was named alongside these of former police officer Neil Mellon and helicopter pilot Michael Burbidge.
All three face a sequence of expenses associated to an investigation right into a February 2022 helicopter crash that killed Outback Wrangler star Chris “Willow” Wilson.
Mr Wright’s lawyer, Giles O’Brien Hartcher, advised the court docket a request could be made later this week to alter the 43-year-old’s bail circumstances, however didn’t specify what the proposed modifications had been.
The court docket heard prosecutors would attempt to take away “three phrases” from the strict phrases Wright was certain by.
Mr Wright was charged in November 2022 with tried perverting the course of justice, destruction of proof, falsification of proof, two counts of illegal entry and making a false assertion.
His lawyer has beforehand indicated that he “strongly denies” any allegations and was not on board the helicopter when it crashed throughout an operation to gather crocodile eggs in a distant a part of Arnhemland.
The circumstances in opposition to Mr Wright, Mr Mellon and Mr Burbidge had been adjourned for six weeks after the court docket discovered that the “fairly in depth” proof was nonetheless being put collectively.
Prosecutor Collette Dixon advised the court docket the investigation was ongoing, and Mr O’Brien Hartcher mentioned he understood there was possible “extra materials to come back”.
Mr Wright’s case will go to court docket on Friday for an utility to amend bail.
Former police officer asks for passport again to go on cruise
The court docket heard that Mr Mellon, a former senior Northern Territory police officer who was additionally charged in reference to the crash, needed his passport again so he might go on a cruise and “discover work alternatives” in Singapore.
Mr. Mellon is being charged in two separate court docket filings, one among which is expounded to the crash investigation.
His lawyer, Sally Ozolins, filed for Mr Mellon’s bail to be modified so he might go on a cruise that was booked in 2020 and had been postponed a number of instances as a consequence of COVID-19.
“It’s scheduled to proceed in March,” Ms Ozolins mentioned.
“It could value the household rather a lot if that did not occur.”
Ms. Ozolins argued that Mr. Mellon was not a “flight threat” as he had already traveled the interstate twice on bail and was a “long-term” resident of Darwin with a house and household ties to the NT.
“He has attended court docket when he was wanted regardless of the frenzy occurring,” she mentioned.
Ms Ozolins advised the court docket that Mr Mellon was investigating fly-in fly-out work alternatives in Singapore however had no particular paperwork to show this as there was “no level” in pursuing functions with out a passport.
The court docket additionally heard that Mr Mellon needed distinguished Darwin lawyer Ray Murphy faraway from the record of individuals he couldn’t contact.
“Mr. Murphy is at the moment employed by my shopper’s spouse in reference to a lot of authorized issues, which it seems he might want to talk with Mr. Murphy in connection along with his spouse’s case and welfare points arising therefrom. ,” Ms. Ozolins mentioned.
The court docket heard that the prosecution’s assertion of alleged details contained a reference to Mr. Mellon “disclosing data” to Mr. Murphy.
Ms Ozolins mentioned: “Proof to substantiate these allegations has not been disclosed.”
“Nonetheless, the allegations are the results of some type of telecommunications interception, once more, which has not been disclosed to us,” she mentioned.
Choose Greg MacDonald didn’t rule on Mr Mellon’s bail request, as a substitute telling Ms Ozolins and Crown Prosecutor Collette Dixon to debate the problems out of court docket.
“I need counsel to debate it and discover out if there’s widespread floor,” mentioned Mr MacDonald.
Helicopter pilot Michael Burbidge’s case was additionally talked about in Darwin’s native court docket on Wednesday and adjourned, together with the circumstances of Mr Wright and Mr Mellon.
All three circumstances will return for an inquest on March 8.
