Stefan Bradley
[Published Friday 20 January 2023]
POLICE have released new details on the deaths of Russell Hill and Carol Clay and how the alleged killer was charged.
In an amended summary of facts given to the media on Tuesday, police allege that on Friday March 20, 2020, Caroline Springs man Greg Lynn, 55, killed 75-year-old Russell Hill and 73-year-old Carol Clay, and “did so with murderous intent”.
Police allege the accused made “immediate and overt efforts to contaminate the crime scene and conceal the offences, including destroying evidence and setting fire to the scene and items belonging to (Mr Hill and Ms Clay)”.
Not all of the police’s evidence has been included in the redacted summary of facts, and the accused has disputed much of its details.
Lynn appeared in person for the first time as part of a five-day committal hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates Court this week, with another hearing scheduled today. The purpose of these hearings is for Magistrate Brett Sonnet to determine whether there is enough evidence to go to trial, where the accused would be put before a jury in the Supreme Court.
Lynn, a former Jetstar pilot, has been charged with two counts of murder. He’s denied the allegations and is likely to plead not guilty.
Russell Hill and Carol Clay vanished from their campsite in the Wonnangatta Valley in March 2020. Other campers found their burnt out campsite.
The human remains found near Dargo in November 2021 were confirmed by Victoria Police to be that of Ms Clay and Mr Hill. Lynn was arrested without incident on November 22, 2021.
The police summary says that the disappearance of the pair was referred to the Missing Persons Squad of the Victoria Police in April 2021. Lynn became a suspect after mobile data allegedly placed Mr Hill’s mobile phone travelling in the same direction at the same time as the accused, with Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras (ANPR) located on the Great Alpine Road at Buckland’s Gap, about 1.6 kilometres east of Dargo High Plains Road, capturing Lynn as the only occupant of the vehicle.
“The accused’s vehicle was the only vehicle to travel through the site while mobile phone data places Hill’s mobile phone travelling in the same direction at the same time,” the summary alleges.
For nearly a year, Lynn’s locations were tracked and his phone was tapped. Investigators allege that he had conversations with himself that made reference to Mr Hill and Ms Clay.
“Investigators allege that on the evening of 20 March 2020, the accused is likely to have had a confrontation with Hill and/or Clay, which led to him killing of Hill and Clay,” the summary alleges.
“In May 2020 and/or November 2020, the accused returned to the bodies of Hill and Clay, where he further tampered with the human remains to dispose of the deceased. This involved burning, dispersing, and partially interring them.”
Lynn’s lawyer, Dermot Dann KC, has applied for a suppression order on the case, which Mr Sonnet is expected to hear today.
Witnesses are expected to provide more evidence to the court on Monday.
