Greg Lynn to take stand in missing campers trial

Accused High Country killer Greg Lynn will be called to give evidence as he stands trial for the murders of Russell Hill and Carol Clay.

Carol Clay and Russell Hill vanished during a camping trip to the Wonnangatta Valley.

Accused High Country killer Greg Lynn will be called to give evidence as he stands trial for the murders of Russell Hill and Carol Clay.

The prosecution closed its case on Wednesday afternoon after the evidence of Detective Sergeant Brett Florence was complete.

After the detective was excused, defence barrister Dermot Dann KC told the Supreme Court one other witness would be called.

“Your Honour the defence call one witness, that will be Mr Lynn,” he said.

Greg Lynn will be called to give evidence. Picture: Diego Fedele

The jury has already seen about three ½ hours of Mr Lynn’s interview with police following his November 2021 arrest.

But his testimony will be the first time the jury will hear the former airline captain, 57, speak in person and have his claims tested by the prosecution.

His evidence is expected to begin from 10.15am on Thursday.

Secret police tapes caught ex-pilot

Accused High Country killer Greg Lynn removed an awning from his 4WD days after his wife remarked it looked similar to a vehicle shown on 60 Minutes.

The former airline pilot, 57, is standing trial in the Supreme Court for the murders of Russell Hill, 74, and Carol Clay, 73, who vanished during a camping trip to the Wonnangatta Valley in March 2020.

The jury was on Wednesday played a short segment of a 60 Minutes episode about the case from November 2021, which included a police sketch and traffic camera image of Mr Lynn’s navy Nissan Patrol with an awning on its side and towing a trailer on the Great Alpine Road.

Melanie Lynn, wife of Greg Lynn, arriving at the Supreme Court. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Mr Lynn’s evidence is expected to begin from 10.15am on Thursday. Picture: Supplied

In the clip, a reporter says police had accounted for every vehicle that left the valley that weekend except the 4WD depicted in the images.

Detective Sergeant Brett Florence said secret listening devices were inside Mr Lynn’s Caroline Springs home and the program was part of a media strategy to try and elicit information.

The court heard it was an agreed fact that Mr Lynn watched the program with his wife Melanie, who commented the vehicle shown “really looked like his car and trailer”.

Traffic camera footage of Greg Lynn’s vehicle which was shown on 60 Minutes. Picture: Supplied

A police sketch of the vehicle police were looking for shown on 60 Minutes. Picture: Supplied

Six days later, Mr Lynn removed a black awning from the vehicle, allegedly to avoid being linked to the pair’s murders.

The jury was earlier shown police surveillance footage of Mr Lynn carrying the awning outside his home after the episode aired.

Mr Lynn carrying the awning outside his home after the episode aired. Picture: Supplied.

Sergeant Florence said the media was used several times to call for those who had been in the area at the time the pair vanished to come forward.

“There was extensive media reporting on this case,” he said.

Under cross-examination by defence barrister Dermot Dann KC, the missing persons squad detective agreed Mr Lynn assisted police following his arrest by providing an account of how the couple died and where their remains were located.

The jury were earlier shown diagrams and maps Mr Lynn drew during the interview of the campsite where the couple were killed and where he dumped their bodies.

Sergeant Florence agreed police had tested Mr Lynn’s account “as best” they could, including firearm deflection tests with a side mirror.

Mr Lynn — who pleaded not guilty to the pair’s murders — told detectives Mrs Clay was accidentally shot as he wrestled over a shotgun with Mr Hill.

The shot passed through the side mirror of Mr Hill’s vehicle before striking her in the head, he claimed.

He said 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 trial continues.