Missing campers’ trial set to resume

The double-murder trial of former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn is expected to resume on Monday after jurors were given a “long weekend”.

The 14-person jury was sent home early on Thursday afternoon after Justice Michael Croucher said the next witness to be called was “crook”.

“You may have noticed that the informant, Detective Florence, who usually sits behind the prosecution barristers there, hasn’t been there this week,” he said.

“He is crook and is in the process of getting over his illness … but we expect he’ll be here on Monday.”

Earlier in the trial, the jury was told Detective Sergeant Brett Florence was the “lead investigator” for the case and had laid the charges against Mr Lynn.

For the past three weeks the 57-year-old pilot has been standing trial in the Victorian Supreme Court over allegations he murdered Russell Hill, 74, and Carol Clay, 73, in March 2020.

The elderly couple vanished while on a camping trip to the Wonnangatta Valley, in Victoria’s High Country, with their remains located 20 months later.

Prosecutors allege Mr Lynn killed the pair “without lawful excuse”, likely following a spat with Mr Hill over his drone or footage on his drone.

“The precise circumstances of the killings are not known. Nor is the motivation,” crown prosecutor Daniel Porceddu said at the start of the trial.

It’s alleged Mr Hill was “most likely” killed first, with Mrs Clay shot in the head second as a witness to the first slaying.

Through his barrister, Dermot Dann KC, Mr Lynn is arguing that both died in tragic accidents that were not “of his making”.

The defence lawyer told the jury Mr Lynn was camping at the same site while on a deer hunting trip, and his initial exchange with the couple was “exchanging pleasantries”.

On his account, the situation turned south when Mr Hill accused the former pilot of hunting too close to their camp and swiped his gun in the evening of March 20.

The shotgun accidentally discharged as the two men wrestled for control, striking Mrs Clay in the head after first passing through the side mirror of Mr Hill’s vehicle, Mr Dann submitted.

Mr Hill then died after falling on a knife as he advanced on Mr Lynn.

Both the prosecution and defence agree Mr Lynn set fire to the couple’s campsite, before moving and later burning their bodies.

Prosecutors allege this can be seen as an implied admission of guilt, while the defence say he panicked and made “terrible choices”.

The trial continues.