[Peetwo]

Croc-o-shite cover-up report, the gift that keeps on giving -   

Via the other Aunty:

NT bush pilot Michael Burbidge fined for destroying Chris 'Willow' Wilson's phone after fatal helicopter crash

By Oliver Chaseling and Alicia Perera

The court heard Michael Burbidge destroyed Netflix star Chris "Willow" Wilson's phone after the crash.(ABC News: Max Rowley)

• In short: Michael Burbidge has been sentenced for destroying evidence after a chopper crash that killed Netflix star Chris "Willow" Wilson
  
• Mr Wilson died when the helicopter crashed in West Arnhem Land in February 2022 during a crocodile egg-collecting mission
  
• Judge Tanya Fong Lim fined Burbidge $15,000, saying the sentence was intended to send a "very strong message"
  

Bush pilot Michael Keith Burbidge has been fined $15,000 for destruction of evidence, for disposing of the phone of Chris "Willow" Wilson following the Netflix star's death in a helicopter crash in 2022.

It comes as more details about the aftermath of the crash have been made public for the first time.

Mr Wilson, 34, died on February 28, 2022 when the Robinson R44 helicopter he was travelling in crashed during a saltwater crocodile egg-collecting mission in West Arnhem Land in the remote Northern Territory.

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) report on the incident, released last year, found the chopper likely crashed because of fuel exhaustion.

Burbidge, 45, who pleaded guilty to one count of destroying evidence in December, appeared in the Darwin Local Court on Friday for sentencing submissions.

In a surprise appearance, one of his co-accused, Matt Wright — Mr Wilson's co-star on National Geographic television series Outback Wrangler and Netflix show Wild Croc Territory — was also present in the courtroom, alongside Burbidge's wife and a group of supporters.


Matt Wright was also present in the courtroom.(ABC News: Max Rowley)

Crash aftermath details made public

In a statement of agreed facts made available to the media for the first time, it was revealed Burbidge was piloting another helicopter on the same crocodile egg-collecting mission as Mr Wilson and Mr Robinson on February 28, 2022 , in the remote area of King River.

When Burbidge had not had any radio communication with Mr Robinson and Mr Wilson, who were both "close personal friends", he became concerned and started searching for their helicopter.

"At approximately 10.36am the defendant located the wreckage of [the pair's helicopter] VH-IDW," the statement of facts said.

"The defendant landed his aircraft and observed Wilson to be deceased and Robinson with serious injuries."


The Robinson R44 helicopter crashed during a saltwater crocodile egg-collecting mission.(Supplied: CareFlight)

The document said after Burbidge gave first aid to Mr Robinson and called CareFlight and police, three other men — businessman Michael Burns and Burbidge's two co-accused, Mr Wright and former NT police officer Neil Mellon — arrived at the scene.

It also said Mr Mellon unzipped Mr Wilson's vest and removed his mobile phone

"At this time Mellon heard the defendant say words to the effect of 'Danni [Wilson's wife] does not need to see what's on that phone'," the statement of facts said.

"Burns also confirmed Burbidge's assertion that the phone contained information that the deceased's wife would not like to know."

Burbidge then destroyed the phone, with the court finding he had the presence of mind to know it may have been of use to investigators.

The contents of the phone remain unknown.


Chris "Willow" Wilson was killed in the crash.(Supplied)

"The defendant acknowledges that the phone may have been required as evidence in subsequent investigations but was motivated to protect the reputation of the deceased and protect the deceased's wife," the document said.

Sentence intended to send a 'very strong message'

Crown prosecutor Steve Ledek told the Darwin Local Court that when destroying the phone, Burbidge would have been aware of its potential use to crash investigators.

"He knew the phone could've held the answers to why his best friend was deceased," he said.

"Nobody can say for certain what was on that phone. Nobody can say for certain what it could've proved."


Mr Ledek also said there was no evidence to prove the data on Mr Wilson's phone could have caused him or his widow reputational damage.

"We don't have it, to be able to prove or disprove that notion," he said.


The court heard Michael Burbidge had apologised to Mr Wilson's family, and admitted destroying the phone was "error of judgement".(ABC News: Max Rowley)

Burbidge's defence lawyer Matthew Johnson said his client's conduct was "an error of judgement that occurred in a very long, stressful and emotionally taxing day".

"He was not responsible for the crash. He was not responsible for the injuries of Mr Robinson and the death of Mr Wilson," he said.

"Everything he did that day, up until [destroying the phone] was motivated to help others."

He also read a statement on behalf of Burbidge apologising to Mr Wilson's family, and said his client had received a letter from the family accepting his apology.


The court heard there was no evidence that data on Mr Wilson's phone would have caused him or his wife reputational damage.(Supplied)

In handing down her sentence, Judge Tanya Fong Lim questioned Burbidge's motivation for destroying the phone.

"Mr Burbidge claims he destroyed the phone out of loyalty to his dead friend, in an attempt to protect his reputation and to protect his widow, from whatever was on that phone," she said.

"There's nothing in the agreed facts that confirms what was contained on the phone, which Mr Wilson needed protection from."


Judge Fong Lim said a prison sentence was not needed because Burbidge was genuinely remorseful, of good character, posed no threat to the community and did not need assistance in rehabilitation.



However, she said the sentence of a $15,000 fine was intended to send a "very strong message" because "such offending goes to the core of the administration of justice, and cannot be condoned in this court".

Judge Fong Lim said the sentence did not place any responsibility for the crash on Burbidge.

Burbidge is the first of three men charged over the aftermath of the crash to be sentenced.

Mr Mellon has pleaded guilty to a charge of destroying evidence and will return to court for submissions and sentencing.


Neil Mellon, left, has also been charged in relation to the crash aftermath.(ABC News: Ian Redfearn)

Mr Wright has been committed to stand trial in the NT Supreme Court on a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

He was not present at the time of the crash and has strenuously denied all allegations.

MTF...P2

PS: Still no record of the ICC review document released under FOI? Wonder who it was that put in the submission for FOI docs?

PPS: Not related but I would be very interested to see the docs released under this FOI request?

19 January 2024 - Current Air Operators Certificate and Foreign Air Transport Air Operators Certificate for Coulson Aviation (Australia) Pty Ltd and surveillance reports concerning Coulson Aviation (Australia) Pty Ltd.

Exemption(s) applied: s22, s47F, s47G