Celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright will spend five months in prison for tampering with evidence after a helicopter crash that killed his co-star and left the pilot a paraplegic.
In August, the former Netflix star was found guilty of lying to police and pressuring a hospitalised witness after the 2022 crash in the Northern Territory (NT).
On Friday, Acting Justice Alan Blow handed Wright a 10-month prison term, which will be suspended after he has served half of it. He was also fined A$5,000 ($3,300; £2,500).
Justice Blow mentioned that Wright showed no remorse but was unlikely to reoffend in any significant way in the future. The maximum sentence he faced was 15 years.
Wright's lawyers plan to appeal the verdicts. The court proceedings revealed that tampering with flight records was a common practice in the NT helicopter community, which Wright was worried would be linked to the crash.
The tragic crash occurred in February 2022, during a crocodile egg harvesting trip. Wright’s co-star Chris Willow Wilson died, and pilot Sebastian Robinson sustained severe injuries.
Prosecutors presented evidence of Wright's deceitful practices including secret recordings that contradicted his claims about the helicopter's fuel when it plummeted to the ground. The trial has captured significant media attention due to Wright's celebrity status as the star of shows like National Geographic's Outback Wrangler.
Wright's influence in the local helicopter community was highlighted during the trial, where his associates described him as an idol, showcasing the pressure he exerted on those around him.
