Netflix star Matt Wright is set to face a marathon jury trial in the Northern Territory Supreme Court next year, with prosecutors indicating they plan to call more than 120 witnesses to give evidence over eight weeks.
Mr Wright is facing one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice, in relation to circumstances that allegedly took place in the aftermath of a fatal helicopter crash in West Arnhem Land in 2022.
His friend and Netflix co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson was killed in the crash, and pilot Sebastian Robinson was seriously injured.
Mr Wright was not present at the crash and indicated last month that he intended to plead not guilty to the charge.
Matt Wright is the star of Netflix's Wild Croc Territory and National Geographic's Outback Wrangler. (ABC News: Pete Garnish)
At a pre-trial hearing on Wednesday, the NT Supreme Court listed Mr Wright's case for an eight-week jury trial next year, scheduled to run from July 7 to August 29.
The court heard prosecutors intended to call around 125 witnesses to give evidence, including 85 who were expected to testify about an alleged tendency of unsound management of Mr Wright's helicopters.
Chief Justice Michael Grant ordered the prosecution to produce an outline of that argument by the next pre-trial hearing date.
Chris "Willow" Wilson was killed in the 2022 helicopter crash. (Supplied)
Mr Wright's defence lawyer Frank Merenda said that outline would likely lead to "certain concessions or admissions" from his client that could reduce the length of the trial.
"The real gist of the length of the trial seems to be by reference to a large amount of civilian evidence concerning the tendency of Mr Wright to engage – on the Crown's case – in practices that were not sound, practices relating to the management of the helicopters." Mr Merenda told the court.
"Its likely that we'll reach a point that that evidence can be dealt with effectively by admission. We're in the process of dealing with that."
The helicopter crashed shortly after take-off in remote West Arnhem Land. (Supplied: Careflight)
Mr Wright's defence team also requested that Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy be served with a fresh subpoena to produce evidence for the trial.
The court heard the defence had previously filed a subpoena with the wrong dates, which was rejected by the court.
Chief Justice Grant criticised the defence for the initial submission, saying it had been rejected for "a number of reasons" including "that it was filed with no explanation and not in accordance with the practice direction of this court that's been in place for 21 years".
While he allowed a new order for the commissioner to give evidence, Chief Justice Grant said the NT Police Force could object if it believed it was a "fishing expedition" by Mr Wright's defence team.
Matt Wright's trial will be heard in the NT Supreme Court. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
Prosecution lawyers also raised the ire of the court for failing to submit a list of their more than 100 planned witnesses or a brief of their argument.
"I'm thrashing around in the dark here because I don't have an outline of the Crown case and I don't have a list of witnesses, which I should have in according to the practice direction." Chief Justice Grant said.
Mr Wright's bail was extended by the court.
Outside of court, Mr Wright told gathered reporters that "I just want to be left alone with my family, thanks".
The matter is set to return to the NT Supreme Court next month for a further pre-trial hearing.
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