Firearms expert in Greg Lynn murder trial made false statement during missing campers investigation

A ballistic and firearms expert who tested accused killer Greg Lynn’s shotgun has admitted in court to making a false statement while investigating the former pilot’s version of events.

Mr Lynn’s shotgun was brought into court as a police officer demonstrated to the jury how it was loaded and operated. Picture: Supreme Court of Victoria

A firearms expert who tested accused killer Greg Lynn’s shotgun has admitted in court he made a false statement as he was interrogated about the “botched exercise”.

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

Leading Senior Constable Paul Griffiths, a ballistics and firearms expert with Victoria Police’s Forensic Services Centre, examined and carried out trajectory testing of Mr Lynn’s Barathrum 12-gauge shotgun in early 2022.

Former Jetstar captain Greg Lynn is standing trial in the Supreme Court for the murders of Russell Hill and Carol Clay. Picture: Supplied

On Tuesday he told the jury he was provided a scenario for the trajectory test by the case’s lead detective in which Mrs Clay was shot in the head as two men struggled over a firearm — the account Mr Lynn gave police — and that he concluded it was “plausible” for one of his tests.

But under cross-examination by defence barrister Dermot Dann KC, the police officer was grilled about why he did not know or make inquiries about the position, height and angle of the shotgun as the men wrestled over it.

“You’re saying to this jury it was not necessary for you to know the angle of this gun when it discharged when you did these trajectory tests?” Mr Dann asked.

Constable Griffiths defended his testing, saying he was provided limited information and it was not within his remit to seek out further detail.

Asked what the heights of the men were as they wrestled, Constable Griffiths conceded he had “no idea” but maintained his testing was thorough.

“This is just a botched exercise isn’t it,” Mr Dann said.

“It’s completely accurate,” he replied.

The firearm was found in “good working order”. Picture: Supreme Court of Victoria

Damage to Russell Hill and Carol Clay's campsite. Picture: Supreme Court of Victoria.

During tense questioning, Constable Griffiths also admitted he had falsely stated in his report that he used Mr Lynn’s firearm for his test when he had actually used a 12-gauge shotgun from the Forensic Services Centre library.

“I put it in my statement erroneously,” he said.

“It was an oversight.”

According to Mr Lynn’s account, Mrs Clay was crouched next to Mr Hill’s LandCruiser when a shot passed through the side passenger mirror and struck her in the head.

Constable Griffiths said he conducted three tests in which Mrs Clay, who was 160cm tall, was in a standing, semi-crouched and crouched position.

He also carried out 14 deflection tests by shooting side mirrors, with 13 of the shots deviating less than a degree off course.

The slug fragment found at Bucks Camp. Picture: Supplied.

Firearms expert Paul Griffiths arrives at the Supreme Court of Victoria. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Lynn’s shotgun was brought into court as Constable Griffiths demonstrated to the jury how it was loaded and operated.

Standing in an area usually reserved for media, Constable Griffiths was asked to point the unloaded firearm at a wall rather than into the body of the courtroom.

“You’re frightening the journalists,” Justice Michael Croucher joked.

Constable Griffiths said he previously conducted tests on the firearm, including to see if it would discharge when dropped, but it passed all of them and he thought the weapon was in “good working order”.

He said it had a heavier than average trigger weight of 3.95kg — meaning more pressure was needed to discharge the firearm.

Fire damaged items were located at Russell Hill and Carol Clay's campsite. Picture: Supplied/ Supreme Court of Victoria.

Constable Griffiths also said he uncovered a metal fragment at Bucks Camp — where Mr Hill and Mrs Clay were camped — with a metal detector in March 2022, two years after their alleged murders.

Examinations revealed it was a spent projectile from a 12-gauge shotgun, also known as a “slug”.

Constable Griffiths said what appeared to be biological material was found on the slug when it was viewed through a microscope, prompting him to seal it and notify a colleague.

It also showed signs of “significant” impact damage, he told the court.

The court earlier heard Mr Lynn’s shotgun was found by police in a locked safe underneath the staircase of his Caroline Springs home after his arrest in November 2021.

The trial continues.