High country killer Greg Lynn sentenced to 32 years in prison, must serve at least 24

High country killer Greg Lynn has been sentenced for the murder of missing camper Carol Clay, but has told the court he will appeal the jury’s guilty verdict.

High country killer Greg Lynn has been sentenced for the murder of missing camper Carol Clay.

The former airline pilot, 58, was found guilty of the murder of Mrs Clay, 73, who along with Russell Hill, 74, vanished during a camping trip to the Wonnangatta Valley in March 2020.

Lynn was cleared of killing Mr Hill.

Justice Michael Croucher handed down his sentence just after 1pm on Friday.

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Lynn to serve at least 24 years in jail

Greg Lynn has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for the murder of camper Carol Clay.

The former Jetstar captain was handed a minimum term of 24 years, meaning he won’t be eligible for parole until 2045.

By then, he will be aged 79.

Supreme Court Justice Michael Croucher acknowledged no prison term would lift the anguish suffered by Mrs Clay’s family.

“I expect that no sentence this court could pass would lessen the grief or ease the pain of Mrs Clay’s loved ones,” Justice Croucher said.

Detective Sergeant Brett Florence, lead investigator in the case, gave a smile and thumbs-up as he exited court after sentencing.

Mr Hill’s widow, Robyn Hill, and her daughter, Deborah, declined to comment as they left court.

Greg Lynn arrives at the Supreme Court on Friday morning. Picture: Jason Edwards

Justice Croucher said the killing of Mrs Clay was a “violent, brutal, horrific death” which was carried out “with a weapon designed to kill”.

“This sentence must be heavier than many others imposed for murder under the standard sentencing regime,” he said.

“My conclusion is this is a very grave murder.”

The prosecution had called for a life sentence, however, Justice Croucher said as grave as the murder and Lynn’s post-offence conduct was, it would be “quite wrong” to impose a life sentence.

“Neither the nature and gravity of this offence nor Mr Lynn’s past history, whether considered alone or in combination, is sufficient to warrant a life sentence,” he said.

Robyn Hill outside the Supreme Court. Picture: Jason Edwards

Lynn letter read to court

Justice Croucher revealed a letter penned by Lynn following his guilty verdict for the murder of Mrs Clay.

The letter, read aloud in court, detailed his shame, regret and intentions to appeal the jury verdict.

“Your Honour, I am disappointed and perplexed by the jury verdict as I have not killed anyone and will be respectfully appealing their decision,” Lynn wrote.

“However, I accept that my decision to flee the scene and attempt to disappear and all of my actions from that effect were selfish and callous in the extreme, causing friends and family of both Carol Clay and Russell Hill much grief and stress for 20 long months.

“I’m very sorry. At the time I had reasons but I understand they are no excuses … and to detail them would be to insult the memory of Carol and Russell.

“I apologise for the shame that my trial has caused to my loving family. I’m very sorry for the pain, shame and suffering that they have endured.

“I understand that due to current community sentiment, my apology will likely be rejected by most. With heartfelt regret for my own behaviour, I humbly apologise regardless.”

Justice Croucher accepted that Lynn was genuinely remorseful for his actions.

“I accept that irrespective of the true reason for which he engaged in that behaviour, he is genuine in apologising for his treatment of the deceased in death, for its callous nature, for the 20-month delay in disclosing the whereabouts of the remains and the adverse effect of that behaviour on the deceased loved ones,” Justice Croucher found.”

Some family of the victims stared at Lynn as his apology letter was read out.

Mrs Clay’s daughter, Emma Davies, nodded as the judge said his apology was tempered by the “dreadful nature” of his conduct.

Lynn’s letter in full

Your Honour,I am disappointed and perplexed by the jury verdict, as I have not killed anyone andwill be respectfully appealing their decision.

However, I accept that my decision to flee the scene and attempt to disappear, and all of my actions to that effect, were selfish and callous in the extreme, causing family andfriends of both Carol Clay and Russell Hill much grief and stress for 20 long months.

For those actions, I am very sorry.

At the time, I had reasons, but I understand they are no excuse and of no interest tothose who suffered. And to detail any of that now would be insulting to the memory of Carol and Russell.

I’m also very sorry for the trouble and work my decisions caused for Victorianemergency services, both government and voluntary. To my previous employer andto the sporting clubs to which I belonged, I apologise for the shame that my trial has caused.

To my loving family, I am very sorry for the pain, shame and suffering they haveendured.

I understand that due to current community sentiment my apology will likely berejected by most. With heartfelt regret for my own behaviour, I humbly apologiseregardless. I don’t ask for forgiveness; I am simply sorry for what I have done.

Sincerely,

Greg Lynn

Judge fights back tears

Justice Croucher fought back tears and briefly paused as he described the impact of the deaths of Mrs Clay and Mr Hill on their loved ones.

Ms Davies, wiped away tears and was comforted by loved ones as the judge recounted her victim impact statement in which she described the trauma from her mother’s murder.

Robyn Hill with her daughters. Picture: Jason Edwards

‘Excruciating’ suffering for family

Justice Croucher said following the jury’s not guilty verdict to the murder of Mr Hill, the family of Mr Hill had been stuck in an “excruciating legal limbo”.

Justice Croucher said that Mr Hill’s wife – Robyn Hill – had to withstand the humiliation of her husband’s affair becoming public and that she and her daughters remain without answers.

“As a matter of common human decency, I acknowledge their plight and suffering,” Justice Croucher said through tears.

Judge can’t determine motive for murder

Supreme Court Justice Michael Croucher said he had been unable to determine the motive of Mrs Clay’s murder, or which of the campers died first.

“It’s sometimes said that a motiveless murder may be worse than a murder with a sinister motive,” Justice Croucher said.

“Perhaps to do such a thing without motive may be just as disturbing.

“I am not satisfied that the murder was motiveless. I simply cannot say what motivated Mrs Clay’s murder.

“Equally I am not satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the murder of Mrs Clay was purely spontaneous.”

Justice Croucher said he was convinced that Lynn deliberately shot to kill Mrs Clay but not through the window of Mr Hill’s vehicle, as was claimed by Lynn.

“I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that her killing was cold or callous.”

Carol Clay and Russell Hill vanished during a camping trip to the Wonnangatta Valley in March 2020.

Judge details Lynn’s version of events

The court revisited the claims made by the convicted killer after he was arrested by police.

Lynn told police that he and Mr Hill got into conflict on March 19 after Mr Hill – who hated hunting – threatened to go to police claiming Lynn had fired a shot through their Wonnangatta Valley campsite.

Lynn said the elderly man claimed to have drone footage of him illegally hunting and he was prepared to make a false allegation to police to stop him.

Angered by the interaction, Lynn said he responded by blasting music from his car and later that night he claimed Mr Hill took his shotgun from his vehicle, refusing to hand it back.

Lynn said Mr Hill fired shots in the air, frightening him and he took cover before launching at Mr Hill to take back the firearm.

During this struggle, he claims the shotgun fired at Mrs Clay, who was seated in Mr Hill’s vehicle, and that she was killed immediately.

Lynn claimed Mr Hill then flew at him in a rage armed with a knife.

He said the pair struggled, falling to the ground where the knife “accidentally” penetrated Mr Hill’s chest, killing him.

Robyn Hill enters court. Picture: Jason Edwards

D-Day for Lynn

Lynn was led into court shortly before 10am to learn whether he would spend the rest of his life behind bars for the murder of missing camper Carol Clay.

Prosecutors had pushed for Lynn to be jailed for life, noting the extraordinary steps he took in covering up his crimes, including dumping the pair’s bodies in remote bushland before later returning and burning what was left of the remains.

He had also shown “no remorse” for Mrs Clay’s murder, and his apology during his testimony was “nothing more than self-serving”.

“The murder was cold blooded and callous,” Crown prosecutor Daniel Porceddu told a pre-sentence hearing.

“The prosecution submits that the imposition of a life sentence is appropriate in this case.”

Lynn, who has spent nearly three years on remand, was found guilty by a jury in June after a five-week long trial.

Greg Lynn is led out of court after an earlier hearing. Picture: Joel Carrett

He claimed the couple were accidentally killed in separate struggles involving a shotgun and a kitchen knife after a dispute with Mr Hill over his drone.

But the 12-person jury rejected his account and unanimously agreed he murdered Mrs Clay — but not Mr Hill — before disposing of and burning their bodies to conceal his involvement.

The incident took place in a remote campground and there were no eyewitnesses.

Prosecutors conceded the precise circumstances, such as a motive, were unknown, other than that Mrs Clay was “shot to the head”.

But they argued Lynn likely murdered Mr Hill after a dispute over the elderly camper’s drone, before shooting Mrs Clay because she was a witness.

Nearly 50 witnesses, including other campers, hunters, family and friends of the missing campers, forensic experts, police and Lynn himself were called to give evidence at trial.

Lynn’s barrister, Dermot Dann KC, previously flagged his client intended to appeal his conviction.

Originally published as High country killer Greg Lynn sentenced to 32 years in prison, must serve at least 24