Jury to start deliberations in missing campers trial on Monday

A dozen jurors, who have sat through 23 days of evidence and directions, are set to determine whether ex-Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn is guilty or not guilty of the murders of Russell Hill and Carol Clay.

The jury will start their deliberations on Monday to determine if Greg Lynn is guilty or not guilty of the murders of Carol Clay and Russell Hill.

The jury in the Greg Lynn murder trial has been sent out to begin their deliberations.

Supreme Court Justice Michael Croucher finished delivering his legal directions, known as a “charge” about 12.30pm on Friday.

But because the trial only sits until 1pm on Fridays, the jury will start their deliberations at 10am on Monday.

Earlier, the jury of 14 was reduced to a dozen — six men and six women — after two jurors, both men, were randomly balloted off.

The jurors, who have sat through 23 days of evidence and directions, will determine whether the ex-Jetstar pilot, 57, is guilty or not guilty of the murders of missing campers Russell Hill, 74, and Carol Clay, 73.

The jury has been instructed they can no longer consider an alternate charge of manslaughter.

The childhood sweethearts went missing while camping in Wonnangatta in the High Country in March 2020, with Mr Lynn later telling police they died in separate accidents as he wrestled with Mr Hill over a gun and a knife.

Mr Lynn told police the pair died in separate accidents. Picture: Supplied

Prosecutors allege he committed a double murder.

Juries can take just hours, or days and even weeks to reach a verdict, with top media lawyer Justin Quill stating the process is shrouded in mystery.

“We really don’t know how juries work because jury deliberation is done in secret,” the partner at major law firm Thomson Geer said.

He said the process could involve a vote of the jurors at the beginning of their deliberations to understand the members’ position, or could launch straight into discussions about the evidence.

Mr Quill said the process remained so secretive because even after juries have done their jobs, no reasons for their decisions are ever published.

“Someone on a jury can’t even tell their friends or family about it afterwards at their Christmas BBQ,” Mr Quill said.

In the Supreme Court, small rooms assigned for the use of juries sit off the courtrooms where they hear evidence from a jury box that is elevated above all but the judge.

Jury rooms appear like small office tea rooms, with a table and chairs, whiteboard, fridge, sink and kettle for cups of tea and coffee.

In his charge, Justice Croucher explained to the jury the legal principles they would need to consider as part of their deliberations.

“You must ignore all other irrelevant considerations, such as any feelings of sympathy or prejudice or bias,” he said.

An example, he said, was feeling sympathy towards Mr Hill’s and Mrs Clay’s families, believing that the couple’s affair was morally wrong or that Mr Lynn’s actions in covering up their deaths was “terrible”.

“Your function and your duty is to use your heads not your hearts,” he said.

The jury will have access to exhibits that were presented during the trial, such as photographs, footage, diagrams and maps.

They will also be provided a transcript of the trial.

The jurors will debate their view of the evidence against Mr Lynn until a finding is determined, and are required to reach a unanimous verdict where all agree on either a guilty or not guilty outcome to murder.

If more than one person disagrees, they could be deadlocked, with a new jury required to sit through a fresh trial.