May 21st 2024.
During the trial at the Supreme Court in Melbourne, the jury was informed that Russell Hill's wife, Robyn, had been under the impression that Carol Clay was her husband's cousin for many years. Little did she know that the two were actually having an affair. The shocking revelation came to light when the couple, aged 74 and 73 respectively, disappeared while on a camping trip in Victoria's Wonnangatta Valley in March 2020.
The accused, Greg Lynn, a former Jetstar captain, is facing charges of murder for allegedly killing the couple and disposing of their bodies in the nearby bushland. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. As the trial progressed, Robyn Hill took the stand as a witness and revealed that she had first met Carol Clay about five decades ago. Her husband had introduced Clay as his first cousin to her.
Over the years, the Hills and the Clays had gone on trips together, and Robyn had noticed her husband and Clay going on walks together. She found it strange but didn't think much of it. However, in the early 2000s, a neighbor had confronted Mr. Hill about the affair and had given him an ultimatum. Mrs. Hill acknowledged that her husband had admitted to the relationship with Clay, but he had assured her that it was over and he wouldn't see Clay again.
When Mr. Hill had told her about his plans to go camping in the Wonnangatta Valley in March 2020, Robyn believed that he was going alone. She had helped him pack his things, including his antidepressants and cans of bourbon. However, after not hearing from him for three days, she contacted the police out of concern. Her daughter, Deborah, also testified and recalled a time in the mid-1980s when her father had used a shotgun for duck hunting. However, he had never used a firearm again as he believed they were unsafe to have around.
The events leading up to the disappearance and death of the couple were alleged to have taken place on March 20th, after an argument between Lynn and Mr. Hill at Bucks Camp. The defense barrister, Dermot Dann KC, claimed that Mr. Hill had threatened to report Lynn to the police for deer hunting near their campsite. This had resulted in a scuffle between the two men, during which Mr. Hill had taken a gun from Lynn's vehicle. In the chaos, Mrs. Clay was accidentally shot by Mr. Hill, and he was stabbed in the chest by Lynn, who was defending himself.
Lynn then proceeded to burn the couple's campsite, put their bodies in his trailer, and dumped them on the remote Union Spur Track near Dargo. The jury was shown footage and photos of the burned campsite, as well as several items belonging to the victims, including their wallets, a high-frequency radio, and a mobile phone, which were found in Mr. Hill's Landcruiser.
Earlier in the day, the jury had been reduced from 15 to 14 members after one juror had to be discharged due to illness. Justice Michael Croucher explained that it was better to continue with the trial rather than waiting to see if her health improved later in the week. The trial will continue with the remaining 14 jurors.
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