National Geographic Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright is expected to appear in a Darwin court to face a series of charges related to a helicopter crash that killed a cast member.
The crocodile trapper turned media personality is accused of perverting the course of justice and destroying evidence from the February crash that killed Chris Wilson.
WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: Bianca Stone reports from Darwin on how today’s court appearance will unfold.
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Wright, 43, is also charged with tampering with evidence, tampering with witnesses, making a false statement and two counts of trespassing after the helicopter crashed into trees and the ground.
The father-of-two was released on bail on Tuesday after flying from Sydney and turning himself into police.
His bail conditions include an order not to contact certain people and to live at a prescribed address.
Wilson, 34, died when the Robinson R44 helicopter he was attached to by a 30m line using a harness crashed in western Arnhem Land.
His body was found 40 meters from the main wreckage at the King River crash site, a preliminary Air Transportation Safety Bureau report revealed in April.
Wilson, also a father of two, was dangling his belt to collect eggs from crocodile nests in the marshlands as the helicopter hovered overhead.
The crashed helicopter was one of three eggs they collected that day. He was found by one of the other crews after he failed to respond to radio calls.
Pilot Sebastian Robinson was seriously injured and airlifted to Maningrida, before being transferred to hospital in Darwin.
A preliminary ATSB analysis of the scene indicated that the accident occurred when the helicopter’s main rotor blade struck and clipped a tree trunk several times before the aircraft hit the ground.
In a statement Monday, a rep for Wright said “Matt strongly denies any wrongdoing.”
“What happened was a tragic accident that took the life of a close partner,” the representative said.
“His immediate concern following the accident was the condition of the two crew members on board at the time.
“The next priority was to make sure that the other helicopters and team members on the scene were not in danger and that the location was safe.”
Outback Wrangler is an adventure TV series filmed in remote Top End locations, broadcast in Australia on Nine and Netflix and in over 90 countries.
The show features the capture and transportation of dangerous animals that pose a threat to humans, including crocodiles and buffaloes.
NT Police officer Neil Mellon and helicopter pilot Michael Burbidge have also been charged in connection with the crash.
Wright is scheduled to appear in Darwin Local Court at 9.30am on Wednesday.