Matt Wright Trial Hears 'Know Who to Trust' Phone Call

In a dramatic development during the Supreme Court trial of Netflix star Matt Wright, a secret phone call was played to the jury, revealing a tense conversation between Wright and his former colleague, helicopter pilot Michael Burbidge. The recording, which forms a key part of the prosecution’s case, features Burbidge warning Wright that he needed to “know who to trust.”

The trial, which is ongoing, centers on Wright’s alleged attempt to obstruct justice following a fatal 2022 helicopter crash that killed his co-star Christopher “Willow” Wilson and seriously injured pilot Sebastian Robinson. Wright has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

During the hearing, Burbidge, who worked with Wright on crocodile egg-collection missions, testified that the phone conversation was not about criminal activity but rather a concern over a rumor that an engineer had tampered with the helicopter’s logbook. “I just rang a friend,” he said in response to questions about the nature of the call.

The recording, which was played to the jury, included Burbidge telling Wright: “You need to find out who f***in’ said it so you know who to trust and not to trust.” This statement has become a focal point in the trial, with prosecutors arguing that it suggests Wright was aware of discrepancies in the flight records and was trying to cover them up.

Crown prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC questioned Burbidge on whether the conversation was about the under-recording of flight hours, a practice that has been linked to the crash. Burbidge denied that the phone call was about any such activity, insisting that he was merely passing on a rumor he had heard.

Another witness, Timothy Luck, who had been collecting crocodile eggs on the trip before the crash, also testified. He recounted seeing the Hobbs meter in Wright’s helicopters disconnected on multiple occasions. He described a tense moment when Sebastian Robinson was seen disconnecting the meter, with Chris Wilson pretending to take a photo of the act.

Luck also stated that he had filled up Robinson’s helicopter completely minutes before it crashed, an action that led to some fuel spilling. He said that Robinson and Wilson had teased him for the incident, but he insisted he had no intention of lying to support his friend.

Under cross-examination, Luck denied that he had lied to the court or to the police in his statements. He emphasized that he had no doubt about the events he witnessed and that he had never intended to conceal the truth.

The trial is set to resume on Monday, with both sides expected to present further evidence. As the case unfolds, the jury will be asked to determine whether Wright’s actions were an attempt to obstruct the investigation into the crash or if he was merely trying to ensure that the truth came to light.