Interviewing former poacher Roy Wright.
Pictured: Roy Wright seated on Charlie the dead croc.
Before meeting Roy, I knew the broad outline of his story. He had spent time in prison, built a reputation as a prolific poacher and became well known in the Northern Territory after illegally killing a giant saltwater crocodile known as Charlie. The crocodile's skull now sits on public display in Darwin.
Like many figures from the past, opinions about Roy vary depending on who you ask. Some describe him as a bush outlaw of his era. Others see him as a repeat offender who caused plenty of trouble. My role is not to decide where he sits on that scale.
Pictured: Roy Wright stands with the skull of Charlie 2025.
What interested me was the opportunity to meet the man himself and hear him speak about those events in the present day.
Our time together began at the historic Fannie Bay Gaol in Darwin. Roy walked our team through the prison where he once served time. Standing inside those old walls alongside the man who had actually lived that chapter of history gave the place a different perspective.
Later, we visited Crocosaurus Cove to inspect the skull of Charlie, the giant saltwater crocodile at the centre of Roy's most famous prosecution. The skull remains on public display and serves as a reminder of a very different time in crocodile management across Northern Australia.
Pictured: Roy Wright in his younger days
One of the more remarkable aspects of the case is that photographs taken on the day the crocodile was killed became key evidence during the prosecution. Those images would ultimately contribute to Roy's conviction and imprisonment.
One thing that doesn't always translate through photographs, court records and old newspaper articles is the human element.
Sitting across from Roy and speaking with him face to face, I found myself looking beyond the stories, convictions and reputation. I was looking at a man now in his 80s reflecting on a life that has taken many turns, some of them difficult to defend.
Pictured: Roy Wright mug shot 
I cannot speak for what sits in another man's heart, but there were moments during our conversations where I sensed a degree of regret about parts of his past. Not the kind of regret that can undo what happened, but the sort that comes with age and hindsight. When people become characters in Northern Territory folklore, it is easy to reduce them to a handful of stories. The poacher. The outlaw. The prison inmate. Sitting in front of Roy reminded me that history is often more complicated than that. Behind every headline is a person who has lived through the consequences of their decisions and carried them for decades.
Pictured: The skull of Charlie and visible axe marks.
Another aspect of Roy's story that interested me was his long-running conflict with retired wildlife ranger Dave Lindner. Years ago the two men found themselves on opposite sides of the law. Dave was tasked with protecting wildlife and enforcing regulations while Roy regularly found himself in conflict with those very authorities. Their paths crossed more than once and the relationship was far from friendly.
What makes the story remarkable is that today the two men are friends.
Time has a way of changing perspectives. The bitterness and conflict that once existed between them appears to have been replaced by mutual respect. Watching Roy and Dave sit together and reflect on those years was a reminder that life is rarely black and white. People change. Circumstances change. Old enemies sometimes become mates.
Whether viewers agree with Roy, sympathise with him or condemn his actions is ultimately their own decision. My role is simply to document the man as he is today and preserve his account as part of a much larger story connected to the Australian outdoors.
Pictured: Roy Wright, Dave Lindner and Roy's Brother in law Allan.