Real-life chaos in reality-tv court case

SCENES like this used to be the exclusive domain of Hollywood Alisters on a red carpet crush in LA. But the circus surrounding realityTV’S Outback Wrangler yesterday would have made George Clooney raise a famous brooding brow.

And while the subject matter lacks the glitz and glam of a Las Vegas-set Ocean’s Eleven, the grit and blokey backdrop of Australia’s rugged and vast crocodileinfested north makes the perfect scenesetter for a story of serious allegations against celebrity croc man Matt Wright.

They include charges of perverting the course of justice, destruction of evidence, fabricating evidence, interfering with witnesses and two counts of unlawful entry following a fatal chopper crash in February this year that killed his close mate Chris “Willow” Wilson as he collected crocodile eggs in a remote area of West Arnhem Land.

Now, after touching down at Darwin Airport yesterday, police are also investigating the alleged assault of a cameraman after a group of men surrounded Mr Wright as he walked through the airport and pushed away the waiting cameras.

In a statement, a spokesman for Mr Wright said on Monday: “Matt strenuously denies any wrongdoing.

What happened was a tragic accident that took the life of a close mate.”

Mr Wilson, 34, was on a job collecting crocodile eggs in a remote area of West Arnhem Land when the helicopter he was travelling in crashed on February 28.

Given the star status Australian reality particpants now attract, scenes like yesterday are guaranteed to continue on a daily basis as the legal proceedings continue through the NT judicial system.