Greg Lynn set to appeal Carol Clay murder conviction

Former airline pilot Greg Lynn is preparing to challenge his conviction for the murder of camper Carol Clay, his lawyer has told a court.

In June, a jury of 12 found Lynn guilty of Clay’s murder, however, the 57-year-old was found not guilty of the killing of Russell Hill with the jury delivering a split verdict.

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 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.

He maintained during the trial that the two deaths were accidental and admitted to burning the crime scene and destroying their bodies. During the trial, Lynn shared his version of events, describing a “horrendous” scene after a struggle allegedly ensued over a shotgun that he claims led to the death of two missing campers.

Despite Lynn’s version of events, prosecutors argued that he killed both of the campers intentionally and then attempted to cover up his crimes.

The twelve jurors began deliberating on their verdict on June 17, returning to the court on Tuesday, June 25 with their final decision. When asked for a verdict on Hill’s murder, the jury’s foreperson told the court “not guilty”. Regarding the murder of Clay, the foreperson replied “guilty”.

During a brief hearing at the Supreme Court in Melbourne on Friday, July 19 Lynn’s barrister Dermot Dann KC flagged Lynn would appeal given a number of concerns about the verdict and claimed the prosecution had conducted the trial unfairly. A formal application to appeal has not yet been submitted to the court.

“He maintains that he’s never killed any person at any time, any place, anywhere, ever,” Dann told the court.

“We submit that the long-term future of the guilty verdict must be seen as being in grave doubt.”

He questioned how the jury reached a guilty verdict over the death of Clay but not Hill, indicating it was not going to be a straightforward pre-sentence hearing.

“There’s an inconsistency in the two verdicts,” Dann said.

“The law is littered with examples where retrials have been ordered.”

Dann added that Lynn had been attacked in prison and placed into isolation for his own protection.

He is facing a maximum penalty of life in prison.

-with AAP.