Croc Wrangler: Witnesses describe the chopper crash

A deadly helicopter crash in February 2022 during a croc egg collection mission set in train the events that led to Matt Wright being charged with three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

In this episode, Olivana Lathouris, Matt Garrick and Stephen Stockwell explain how one of the Northern Territory's richest men and a senior off-duty police officer ended up at the crash, and why it's the heart of this trial.

If you have any questions you'd like Oli and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email thecaseof@abc.net.au.

The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.

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It's the trial everyone in Darwin is talking about. In February 2022 a helicopter on a crocodile egg collection mission crashed in remote Arnhem Land, killing the egg collector and paralysing the pilot.

NT Croc Wrangler Matt Wright isn't on trial for the crash, but for what allegedly he did after. Charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, prosecutors say he tried to interfere with the investigation.

Matt Wright has pled not guilty and denies all the allegations.

To hear the background of this story, listen to our episode introducing the case of the croc wrangler.

The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit ABC podcast Mushroom Case Daily. The response to Mushroom Case Daily was overwhelming, with more than 8000 emails from listeners, many of them noting how the coverage had given them unprecedented insight into Australia's criminal judicial system. 

We decided to convert the podcast into an ongoing trial coverage feed to continue delivering on this front, following cases that capture the public's attention.