Netflix star and celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright will be able to communicate with two more people he was formerly barred from contacting after his lawyers successfully applied to have his bail conditions altered for a second time.
Key points:
- Matt Wright is facing a series of charges in relation to a fatal helicopter crash in February
- A court has granted an application for another two people to be removed from his list of prohibited contacts
- He is still barred from communicating with another 46 people
Mr Wright — who is the star of Netflix reality show Wild Croc Territory and the National Geographic series Outback Wrangler — is one of three men facing charges over a fatal helicopter crash in Arnhem Land last February.
The crash killed his Outback Wrangler co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson and injured helicopter pilot Sebastian Robinson.
Mr Wright is charged with a series of offences in relation to the crash, including attempting to pervert the course of justice, destruction of evidence, fabricating evidence and two counts of unlawful entry.
He was not onboard the helicopter when it crashed and, after he was charged in November, a spokesman said the crocodile wrangler “strenuously denies” any wrongdoing in relation to the crash.
Under Mr Wright’s original bail conditions, he was barred from contacting 50 people, including former police officer Neil Mellon and pilot Michael Burbidge, who are facing separate charges as part of the same investigation.
Last month, his legal team successfully applied for two people, Tim Johnston and Rowan Sutton, to be removed from that list.
A new condition was also added, requiring him to give at least 24 hours’ notice to fly out of Queensland, where he is currently living.
On Friday, January 27, Mr Wright’s lawyers successfully applied for another two people to be struck from his list of prohibited contacts.
He will now be allowed to contact James Apte and Michael Jacobi, who are both cattle industry workers who feature in Mr Wright’s Netflix series Wild Croc Territory.
The application on behalf of Mr Wright — who was not required to appear in court on Friday — was unopposed by the Northern Territory’s Department of Public Prosecutions.
Mr Wright is scheduled to return to court for another bail variation hearing on February 8.