Celebrity Crocodile Wrangler Matt Wright lied about the helicopter accident that killed co -star in Australia, finds the jury

An Australian Wrangler crocodile was convicted on Friday to lie to the police and try to falsify flight records more than three years after a fatal helicopter accident.

A jury condemned Matt Wright, star of the “Wild Croc territory”, “Monster Croc Wrangler” and the series “Outback Wrangler”, of two positions to pervert the course of justice, according to judicial documents.

The one -month trial in Darwin’s Supreme Court followed a 2022 helicopter accident in the northern outback territory that He killed his friend and co -star Chris Wilson and left the pilot a paraplegic.

Wilson was hanging from the helicopter for a 100 -foot line to collect crocodile eggs when he ran out of fuel and crashed, according to a plane crash investigation.

The researchers at that time found that the operator was not using their security management system to identify and manage operational risks.

The northern territory allows hunters to collect wild crocodile eggs to help handle populations, allowing them to be sold to farms used by reptiles to make leather.

Wright was convicted of lying in a statement about the fuel level of the plane and encouraging the injured pilot to falsify the flight records.

The jury could not issue a verdict on a third position that had ordered someone to destroy aircraft maintenance records.

The interim judge Alan Blow released Wright freely on bail before an appeal, according to the ABC national station.

Speaking outside the court, Wright said he was “quite disappointed” by the verdict, ABC reported.

“It has been a long fight and now we have an appeal in process, and we will continue advancing with this,” he said. “It has been devastating for all involved.”

Wilson’s widow, Danielle Wilson, attended the procedures at every day of the trial, ABC reported. Speaking outside the court on Friday, he said that the day marked “an important moment on a long and painful trip,” the departure said.

Wright must be sentenced at a later date.

• Helicopter accident
• Australia
• Crocodile