Current Trial Russell Hill & Carol Clay - Wonnangatta *Pilot Greg Lynn Pleads Not Guilty to Murder

[Kurve]

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On the Greg Lynn committal proceedings Crown Prosecutor Mr Dickie said 'It is clear hopefully from the document, and if it's not clear from the document it's clear hopefully from the charges put before the court, that it is alleged of course that the accused acted with murderous intent when he allegedly killed the two victims.'

 

[Lady O]

No real smoking gun from the prosecution as far as I can see. Story of him going from his fire to their illuminated camp and coming from behind backs up his version.
Can't see any mention of moving the bodies sleeping bags etc unless I missed it.
The crown haven't drilled down into the forensics and direction enough. Disprove an element of the story and murder is the only alternative.
Yet the more evidence presented seems to back his version as plausible.
Could be a not guilty here and a guilty for involuntary manslaughter

Specifically regarding how the struggle unfolded at the front of the Landcruiser and how Clay was killed.

 

[MiguelM]

Specifically regarding how the struggle unfolded at the front of the Landcruiser and how Clay was killed.

Clay was the proverbial "deer in the headlights" kill for Lynn IMO.

 

[fargo in dargo]

Lynn claims he grabbed the barrel of the shotty from the front right of Hills car. Lynn claims Hill was at the front of the car right hand side. That recent photo of the front of hills car and toilet tent clearly shows the rope from the toilet tent to the extreme right hand side of the bull bar. Geez in my mind that rope would absolutely get in the way of a struggle if what Lynn says is true. Yet Lynns testimony he claimed that he didnt even see the rope? Am i missing something? If the altercation happened at the front right corner of hills car, surely both men would have been hindered by it at least? The fact that Lynn claims he didnt see the rope, or the rope wasnt a factor sort of tells me that the fight didnt happen there?

 

[LeChatNoir]

I discussed this case in detail with a friend over dinner last.

It's interesting that Lynn's story, while unlikely, aligns so closely with the available evidence and I think the jury in this case are going to have a tough time making a decision about whether or not to support a double murder charge, based on the prosecution's evidence and suggested chain of events. I can't help but feel that the prosecution's case is weak in some areas.
Part of it is because Lynn destroyed a good deal of the evidence. But I don't feel that the prosecution have put enough thought into the chain of events, with the details surrounding Russell Hills actual death being a massive grey area.

There are a couple of things in particular that bug me about Lynn's version. One is RH firing shots into the air. The only possible scenario that I can see anyone firing a gun into the air is as a warning, or to draw attention.

I'm also perplexed about the particulars of the struggle between RH and GL.

This picture showing the guy rope between the Landcruiser's bumper and the camp toilet is telling:

View attachment 2014525

As far as I understand, Lynn is suggesting that RH was standing in the vicinity of the front of the Landcruiser when he discharged shots.
Well, I don't believe that RH would have attempted to pass through that narrow space, under the guy rope, in the dark. Actually I believe that both RH and CC would have viewed that space between the Ute's bumper and the toilet as no man's land.

I also don't believe that RH would have discharged a weapon right next to his brand new pride and joy, or anywhere near CC as it would have scared the bejesus out of her.
I understand that the prosecution raised questions about the two men struggling for control of the weapon under that guy rope etc.

Let's move on to the particulars of RH's death.

Lynn claims that this happened at his own camp, with RH being the aggressor. I think it's likely that Lynn is telling the truth about the location of RH's death, as he would have been aware that crime scene analysis might show it anyway.

My dinner companion pointed out that RH may have been lured to Lynn's camp.
This notion actually fits in nicely with the story about the music being turned up, about RH being bare foot in pyjamas, and about RH and CC having possibly been disturbed while on the job in the tent.

Lynn turns the music up, Russell looses his shit and heads over to Lynn's camp, where Lynn is waiting ready for a physical altercation.

Carol Clay is an unfortunate witness, and it may be that Lynn took several shots at her.
I'm not sure about the car mirror. I found it interesting that Lynn went to the trouble of describing how the laser scope would have been illuminating the passenger side mirror rather than CC's head. It may be that the mirror wasn't involved at all, but it was used to support Lynn's story of an accidental shooting. Maybe he shot through it later, or maybe he simply destroyed it.

I need to point out that what I've written above is simply a theory, because I don't particularly like either Lynn's version nor the prosecution's version. And the only living person who knows what actually went down is Lynn.
I don't feel that the prosecution have come anywhere near proving beyond reasonable doubt that Lynn commited two murders.

It's a fascinating case and it's going to be interesting to see what the jury makes of it all.

I'm not sure that Lynn knows what happened anymore? I think Lynn may be a pathological liar and convinced himself that in order for his lies to be believed by others he must believe them himself. IMO

 

[InagoRaida]

The Police charged him with two counts of murder, suggesting that on the basis of the evidence available they were certain it satisfied the common law definition of murder (possibly after consultation with the DPP)

The DPP then took the evidence to Committal, where the Magistrate formed the view that there was a prima facie case made for the two charges and committed Lynn to stand trial for the murder of Hill and Clay.

During the summation of each party's case, the Defence will state that the Prosecution case does not meet the requisite level to convict Lynn of two counts of murder, and suggest that he be aquitted on those charges.

Depending on how the Defence reads the jury. it may suggest that convictions of Manslaughter be considered in lieu

The Justice, in his charge to the Jury, will be very specific about the requirements to convict a person of a charge of Murder,

He may also add a rider, that if the Jury consider that the Prosecution case does not meet the requisite level to convict him of murder, but, after explaining the difference, consider he is guilty of one or more charges of Manslaughter

This gives the Jury of finding Lynn not guilty of Murder but guilty of the alternate charge of Manslaughter of one or both parties.

The Crown will always lay the "heaviest" charge possible as once the defendant is committed for trial. the charges cannot be upgraded to a "heavier" charge.

The charges can always, at any time during the trial, be downgraded by the Prosecution or Judge to a lesser charge or dropped completely

Such clarity in your explanation GreyRanga!
Although based on discussions on Thurs &Fri, it looks like M/S is off the table ..only murder is available. This will be confirmed prior to summations commencing tues morning

 

[InagoRaida]

Lynn said there was no light in his car.

1/ If it was dark as Lynn has testified there is no way Hill would be able to see a gun on the back seat.

2/ If hill was sneaking up to Lynn’s car in the dark - he absolutely would not want to alert Lynn. No sane person would therefore risk opening the rear door to get access to gun because of the likely hood the interior light would go on.

3/ In a camping situation at night you want and need the interior light to come on when a door is opened.

4/ Quite apart from seeing the gun on the back seat in the dark, how would Hill have been able to see the ammunition, (which I believe was on the front seat), and quickly pick the correct ammunition for the gun he took.

5/ Loading ammo into a gun I’m sure on a quiet night would be a noisy business.

Lynn in his testimony (Prs. cross) stated that all doors were open, to let music out, and interior light was off, to svoid draing battery. He was sitting by campfire, and gas lantern on trailer..claimed these two sources provided enough light in the car for Russell to steal a gun (but why didn't he take both?)
IMO this is one of the salient bits where it falls apart...

 

[LeChatNoir]

Lynn claims he grabbed the barrel of the shotty from the front right of Hills car. Lynn claims Hill was at the front of the car right hand side. That recent photo of the front of hills car and toilet tent clearly shows the rope from the toilet tent to the extreme right hand side of the bull bar. Geez in my mind that rope would absolutely get in the way of a struggle if what Lynn says is true. Yet Lynns testimony he claimed that he didnt even see the rope? Am i missing something? If the altercation happened at the front right corner of hills car, surely both men would have been hindered by it at least? The fact that Lynn claims he didnt see the rope, or the rope wasnt a factor sort of tells me that the fight didnt happen there?

Bugger, I didn't know about this rope when I role played it with my partner. We are going to have to do it all over again. I don't want to play Lynn, partner doesn't want to play Lynn... that leaves the cat.

 

[nut]

There was, or should have been, a lot of evidence to support Lynn’s version.

1/ The mirror
2/ Glass from the mirror on the ground
3/ Finger prints on the gun
4/ Clay’s body with gun shot injury
5/ Blood from clay on the ground
6/ Blood splatter from clay on other things like solar panels
7/ The knife
8/ Hill’s body with knife wound
9/ Blood from Hill on the ground
10/ The knife
11/ Drone
12/ Tent and awning

This is not an exhaustive list.

Lynn methodically and systematical took action to destroy and eliminate all evidence that could prove his version of events.

All of it.

An innocent person - even if you wanted to run and hide - would not do that.

Not just, as he claims in the immediate aftermath in a state of panic but over the course of many months.

The gun especially with Hill’s finger print on the trigger - he had time to ponder and could have kept - as the ultimate insurance if the cops came knocking.

When you think about it, there was a lot more evidence of what Lynn said went down, than for any other scenario. Yet the person who most needed and had the most to benefit from such evidence - destroys every shred of it.

How he had initially had left them would have supported his story if he believed the cops were closing in.

At that point it was in his interest of being able to prove his innocence that the bodies should have remained undisturbed.

There was no rational reason to further interfere with the bodies.

At that point his interest would have been best served if the bodies were found.

Agree with most of that…

But Lynn has admitted his motive.. to protect his career.

Regardless of his innocence his career was over because of his involvement .. the fact his gun killed someone would lead to a conviction of some sought.. which means his life was in ruins.

 

[Lady O]

Bugger, I didn't know about this rope when I role played it with my partner. We are going to have to do it all over again. I don't want to play Lynn, partner doesn't want to play Lynn... that leaves the cat.

I don't think anyone knew about the rope?

 

[Lady O]

Lynn claims he grabbed the barrel of the shotty from the front right of Hills car. Lynn claims Hill was at the front of the car right hand side. That recent photo of the front of hills car and toilet tent clearly shows the rope from the toilet tent to the extreme right hand side of the bull bar. Geez in my mind that rope would absolutely get in the way of a struggle if what Lynn says is true. Yet Lynns testimony he claimed that he didnt even see the rope? Am i missing something? If the altercation happened at the front right corner of hills car, surely both men would have been hindered by it at least? The fact that Lynn claims he didnt see the rope, or the rope wasnt a factor sort of tells me that the fight didnt happen there?

Yes, in a previous telling of "the story", Lynn said Hill had the shotgun pointing down during the struggle, but he amended that to Hill raising it to push up the rope (when he found out it existed). Lynn said he grabbed the barrel with his right hand and the stock with his left and pinned Hill to the bull bar and they struggled on the passenger side of the Toyota. So, it would seem to me that there was no way Clay could have been killed with a shot hitting the passenger side mirror and deflecting to hit her in the head where she was supposedly crouching on the passenger side.

 

[LeChatNoir]

Lynn claims he grabbed the barrel of the shotty from the front right of Hills car. Lynn claims Hill was at the front of the car right hand side. That recent photo of the front of hills car and toilet tent clearly shows the rope from the toilet tent to the extreme right hand side of the bull bar. Geez in my mind that rope would absolutely get in the way of a struggle if what Lynn says is true. Yet Lynns testimony he claimed that he didnt even see the rope? Am i missing something? If the altercation happened at the front right corner of hills car, surely both men would have been hindered by it at least? The fact that Lynn claims he didnt see the rope, or the rope wasnt a factor sort of tells me that the fight didnt happen there?

Excellent observation^^^
The following is taken from June 5, Missing Campers podcast. Voice actor in role of Lynn being questioned by police about the gunfight between him and Russell.

I come around here and I confront him, “give it back”, you know, “what are you doing?”
And he said he was going to take that to the police with him.
And then when I advance towards him he, he had the magazine in the shotgun at this stage.
He pulled the action back and he let a couple of rounds go into the air.
I immediately ran around the back here, fearing that you know, that I might be able, might be going to cop the next one and I waited.
It was in shadow around here and it was dark.
I didn’t want to run back towards my car ‘cause if he was going to, you know, shoot me then he would’ve had a clear shot.
I then hear Mr Hill coming around this side of the car and so I kept under the shadow and I moved in closer, again fearing that if I ran this way, I’d cop another one.
I saw the barrel of the shotgun appear over the bonnet.
And to try and disarm him I jumped up.
I grabbed the shotgun barrel with my right arm.
Pivoted around so I was facing him.
Him facing away from the bonnet of the car.
I had the left hand on the stock.
Right hand on the barrel.
And we wrestled.
The shotgun was pointed over this way, and it was discharged.
My hand was not on the trigger it was on the barrel, right hand, left hand on the stock pushing up against him.
He wouldn’t let it go.
It discharged.
It went through the left hand rear view and killed Ms Clay dead.
She was shot through the head.

View attachment 2014525

As FargoinDargo and Spectrix have pointed out. How could they have been fighting at the front of Russell's car.


I think this is the map in reference to Lynn's police interview statement of how Russell took the gun, and the gunfight in the front of Russells ute. I think the dotted lines are possibly Lynn's skulking in the shadows as he makes his way to the front drivers side of Russell's car, where he sees the barrel of the shotgun. Where was Russell standing? Which side of the rope?

 

[GladdyDee]

There was, or should have been, a lot of evidence to support Lynn’s version.

1/ The mirror
2/ Glass from the mirror on the ground
3/ Finger prints on the gun
4/ Clay’s body with gun shot injury
5/ Blood from clay on the ground
6/ Blood splatter from clay on other things like solar panels
7/ The knife
8/ Hill’s body with knife wound
9/ Blood from Hill on the ground
10/ The knife
11/ Drone
12/ Tent and awning

This is not an exhaustive list.

Lynn methodically and systematical took action to destroy and eliminate all evidence that could prove his version of events.

All of it.

An innocent person - even if you wanted to run and hide - would not do that.

Not just, as he claims in the immediate aftermath in a state of panic but over the course of many months.

The gun especially with Hill’s finger print on the trigger - he had time to ponder and could have kept - as the ultimate insurance if the cops came knocking.

When you think about it, there was a lot more evidence of what Lynn said went down, than for any other scenario. Yet the person who most needed and had the most to benefit from such evidence - destroys every shred of it.

How he had initially had left them would have supported his story if he believed the cops were closing in.

At that point it was in his interest of being able to prove his innocence that the bodies should have remained undisturbed.

There was no rational reason to further interfere with the bodies.

At that point his interest would have been best served if the bodies were found.

Yep, not one scrap of useful evidence remains to support GL’s account

 

[Kurve]

The guy rope tied at the bull bar drivers side and to the toilet, might be information the police held back. (edit: through the investigation)

I can't see it in the images we saw through the press.

 

[Lady O]

The guy rope tied at the bull bar drivers side to the toilet, might be information the police held back.

I can't see it in the images we saw through the press.

No, but someone posted an image of it recently.

 

[GrayRanga]

The guy rope tied at the bull bar drivers side to the toilet, might be information the police held back.

I can't see it in the images we saw through the press.

The prosecution cannot withhold any information from the Defendent or their defence (grounds for appeal!)

The Rules of Natural Justice require that all evidence called upon by Prosecution in the Court case has to be provided to the other party so that the Defendant may form a response to it.

All the photos taken at the camp site would have been provided to the Defence

Doesn't mean that the Defence (or Lynn!) realised the importance of that rope as it wasn't mentioned in Lynn's ROI?

Did the Defence fail to do an experiment with the Chamber's cat?

 

[Kurve]

The prosecution cannot withhold any information from the Defendent or their defence (grounds for appeal!)

Oh yes I understand that but I'm referring to withholding information from the public and the offender, prior to arrest.

It appears that through his ROI, Lynn may have been exposed for making up a story about struggling with Hill at the front drivers side of Hill's ute because he didn't mention the guy rope. This is the guy rope that the public didn't know about because it wasn't in any of the images released to the public. Not that I noticed anyway.

If the public didn't know it was there, Lynn couldn't have been reminded it was there either and change his story to fit it in.

 

[Awakening]

Bugger, I didn't know about this rope when I role played it with my partner. We are going to have to do it all over again. I don't want to play Lynn, partner doesn't want to play Lynn... that leaves the cat.

This had me loling.

 

[Awakening]

How an innocent person would act. How would you know? Fine to theorise but say it was a total accident + he's been irresponsible with the guns. It's actually a ****ing unbelievable situation. Who honestly knows how anyone reacts?
Who hear has been in emergency high stress situations? (All be it not like this). There is no way of knowing how you act until your in it

I would do anything for love but I won’t do that.

 

[Awakening]

Maybe someone is a fan of reddit, tho stuffed a few up

View attachment 2014762

Oh they sound nice….

 

[Badd0g]

You need to compare the two maps. The first is Lynn's and the second is the one the Pros presented at the trial.View attachment 2013995View attachment 2014005

The second map is one I marked up, it did not come from the prosecution at all.
I took all of the maps and aerial shots published at that point and made a guestimate of where each campsite was. I wasn't far off, but I didn't factor in that GL's car was not with his trailer/camper, so they were in fact much closer
to each other than I originally suspected.

 

[Percel]

Bugger, I didn't know about this rope when I role played it with my partner. We are going to have to do it all over again. I don't want to play Lynn, partner doesn't want to play Lynn... that leaves the cat.

Blow up Lynn dolls available for rent

 

[Badd0g]

Interesting a pilot would help the cabin crew to go through and clean the cabin after each flight and take his gloves with him and would also take a lousy $40 from a horrific scene.
Took the $40 to make it look like a robbery gone wrong?
Who would have known they had $40 in cash?

He took the cash for fuel to remove the risk of a trail on his way home.

 

[Underarrest_]

He took the cash for fuel to remove the risk of a trail on his way home.

Totally,
RH and Ms Clay even helped pay his way home.
Sickening.

 

[Kurve]

The second map is one I marked up, it did not come from the prosecution at all.
I took all of the maps and aerial shots published at that point and made a guestimate of where each campsite was. I wasn't far off, but I didn't factor in that GL's car was not with his trailer/camper, so they were in fact much closer
to each other than I originally suspected.

Yeh I was a bit shocked at how close they were and that Hill's aerial looked to be almost encroaching in to Lynn's camp.

 

[Badd0g]

Yeh I was a bit shocked at how close they were and that Hill's aerial looked to be almost encroaching in to Lynn's camp.

Yeah, when I thought there was a tree and more distance berween them, I thought it was reasonable, but that's a bit close for comfort. There are multiple spots to camp along the river there, but I'm guessing RH wanted his usual spot for his familiarity with the aerial setup.