Russell Hill and Carol Clay murder trial delayed due to accused’s financial issues

The trial of Greg Lynn, the man accused of allegedly murdering Russell Hill and Carol Clay, has been delayed until 2024 after lawyers representing Lynn argued that their client was facing financial issues.

Greg Lynn is pleading not guilty to two counts of murder and was set to stand trial in October of this year.

However, the trial has now been delayed after lawyers for Lynn requested proceedings be pushed back to 2024.

During a pre-trial hearing on Thursday, May 11, barrister Dermot Dann KC cited his client’s “funding issues” as the cause for the request.

“A number of funding issues are trying to be dealt with at the present time. They’re going to take a long time to resolve,” Dann said as reported by the ABC.

“In terms of it continuing to be a privately-funded matter, there’s a battle in that regard.”

Judicial registrar Tim Freeman ordered a new trial date to be set for early 2024 to provide Lynn time to address his financial woes.

Hill and Clay were last heard from on March 20, 2020 when they were camping in the Wonnangatta Valley. The couple’s campsite was discovered by campers on March 21 allegedly destroyed by fire near Dry River Creek Track, Hill’s vehicle was allegedly found with signs of minor fire damage.

Lynn was arrested in relation to the camper’s disappearance on November 21, 2021 and was later charged with two counts of murder after he was questioned for several days by police.

Police located the remains of the pair in Victoria’s bushland in November 2021 after an extensive search.

Following forensic testing, Victoria Police later confirmed the remains belonged to the missing campers.

“Victoria Police can confirm that forensic testing on human remains located near Dargo in November 2021 has now been completed,” a police statement revealed at the time.

“The Coroner has advised Victoria Police that the remains are that of Russell Hill and Carol Clay.”

Following a week-long committal hearing, earlier this year, Magistrate Brett Sonnet committed Lynn to the Victorian Supreme Court for trial.

“I’ve considered the totality of the evidence in the hand-up brief and the evidence heard during this committal proceeding,” Sonnet told Melbourne Magistrates’ Court at the time

“I’m satisfied in respect of both charge one and two that there is sufficient weight to support a conviction.”

Lynn responded “not guilty your honour” to the charges against him and did not enter an application for bail.

As the hearing drew to a close, Sonnet thanked the family members of Hill and Clay who were in attendance for the “dignity” that they displayed during a very “difficult experience”.