Russell Hill accidentally killed after struggle with knife, jury told

Russell Hill was accidentally killed after a struggle with a knife despite his accused killer having access to two guns, a jury has been told.

Missing camper Russell Hill was accidentally killed by a knife, a jury has been told.

Missing camper Russell Hill was accidentally killed by a knife despite his accused killer having access to two firearms, a jury has been told.

Former Jetstar captain Greg Lynn, 57, is standing trial in the Supreme Court for the murders of Mr Hill, 74, and Carol Clay, 73, who vanished during a camping trip to the Wonnangatta Valley in Victoria's High Country in March 2020.

Defence barrister Dermot Dann KC on Friday put a scenario to Leading Senior Constable Leah Thowless, a crime scene examiner who uncovered bone fragments during a search of Bucks Camp — the alleged murder scene — in March 2022.

“Mr Lynn indicated to police … that although he had the availability to use two guns when it came to Mr Hill … (he) died accidentally as a result of a struggle over a knife,” he said.

“On that account, there’d be no reason for you to find any male bones belonging to Mr Hill at Bucks Camp?”

“I can’t comment on that,” Constable Thowless replied.

Greg Lynn arriving at the Supreme Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

The jury was on Thursday told skull fragments recovered from Bucks Camp were tested for DNA and likely belonged to Mrs Clay but none matched Mr Hill.

According to Mr Lynn’s account, Mrs Clay was accidentally shot in the head as the men wrestled over a shotgun.

The ex-pilot claimed Mr Hill then came at him with a knife before he too was accidentally killed when he fell onto the blade during a struggle.

The court previously heard a metal fragment found at Bucks Camp was likely to be a bullet or shot fragment.

During cross-examination on Friday, Mr Dann said the campsite had been open to the public for a vast period of time and there was no interruption to plant growth underneath the fragment when it was uncovered in March 2022 — two years after the alleged murders.

He suggested to Constable Thowless it had only recently arrived at the site.

“I can’t comment how it arrived in that position,” she replied.

Constable Thowless said she searched Mr Lynn’s Nissan Patrol in November 2021, where various camping items and hunting and shooting licences were uncovered.

Dr Lyndall Smythe said burnt teeth found near Union Spur Track likely belonged to Mr Hill. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Earlier on Friday, Lyndall Smythe, a forensic odontologist and dental expert with the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, said burnt teeth found near Union Spur Track — where the missing campers’ remains were dumped — likely belonged to Mr Hill.

Dr Smythe said she was asked to compare the teeth, which had been damaged by fire or heat, with dental records of Mr Hill and Mrs Clay.

The teeth, some of which were partially missing, likely belonged to Mr Hill but only two could be matched with his records, she said.

The jury was shown images and X-rays of five teeth and a dental “bridge”, which is an artificial tooth held in place by other teeth, as Dr Smythe pointed out where they were located in the mouth.

The trial will resume on Monday.