Former pilot Greg Lynn has conviction set aside, retrial ordered over deaths of Carol Clay and Russell Hill
Former pilot Greg Lynn will face a fresh trial for the murder of a missing camper who died alongside her secret lover.
Lynn, 59, faced a full Court of Appeal in Melbourne where three judges decided his fate today.
He appealed his murder conviction and sentence for the death of camper Carol Clay, 73, who went missing with Russell Hill, 74, from a remote campsite in March 2020.
Greg Lynn will now face a retrial at a later date. (Nine)
The pair had been camping at the same site as Lynn, Buck’s Camp in the Wonnangatta Valley in Victoria’s High Country.
Lynn was charged with two murders and took the case to trial, admitting he burned their bodies but maintaining the deaths were accidental.
The jury returned a split verdict in June 2024 and Lynn was sentenced in October of that year to 32 years’ imprisonment with a minimum of 24.
He was found guilty of Clay’s murder but acquitted over Hill’s death.
Lynn appealed his murder conviction and sentence for the death of camper Carol Clay (right), who went missing with Russell Hill (left) from a remote campsite in March 2020. (Nine)
He appealed the verdict with his lawyers arguing it was unsafe as prosecutors put forward an unfair case and had failed to properly cross-examine Lynn.
However, prosecutors rejected all claims the trial was unfair, despite admitting cross-examination could have been better.
The appeal judges asked prosecutors if they will pursue Lynn on manslaughter charges for both deaths if he faces a new trial.
Prosecutor Kathryn Hamill asked to be given time to discuss this with Victoria’s Director of Public Prosecutions and would pass a note to the court.
Today, three appeal judges returned to the court and allowed his appeal, ordering that he face a fresh trial over Clay’s murder conviction.
The judges found there were a number of “serious irregularities” that gave rise to a “substantial miscarriage of justice” as they set aside the murder conviction.
Hill’s daughters, Deborah and Colleen, sat in court and appeared emotional as the decision was handed down.
Lynn was remanded in custody and will return to the Supreme Court for a directions hearing on January 28.
Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.
