Two friends claim that the campers who were killed had made a pact to get divorced before their deaths.

During a trial at the Supreme Court in Melbourne, the friends of a man who was allegedly murdered while camping with his childhood sweetheart shared their insights with the jury. It was a heartbreaking case involving Russell Hill and Carol Clay, who had made a pact to leave their respective partners to be together. However, things took a tragic turn when Hill backed out of the agreement at the last minute.

Hill, 74, and Clay, 73, were camping together in Victoria's Wonnangatta Valley in March 2020 when they suddenly disappeared. It was a shocking turn of events that left their loved ones and friends devastated. The accused, 57-year-old Jetstar captain Greg Lynn, is facing two counts of murder for allegedly killing the couple at Bucks Camp and then disposing of their remains in bushland near Dargo.

One of Hill's longtime friends, Robin Ashlin, took the stand and shared his memories of the couple. He first met Clay at a campsite in Timbarra back in 2019 when he went to visit another friend, James Francis. Hill was also there, and Ashlin introduced Clay as his friend. However, Ashlin couldn't help but notice the intense chemistry between Hill and Clay.

Ashlin never mentioned the encounter to Hill's wife, but she later revealed that Clay had been in the picture for over two decades. As childhood sweethearts, Hill and Clay had made a pact to leave their spouses and be together. However, things didn't go as planned when Hill had a change of heart and decided not to leave his wife.

Ashlin was taken aback by the news of the affair as it was not something he would have expected from Hill. He even joked, "What's the deal with having one on the side? One is already enough trouble!" It was clear that Ashlin was still struggling to come to terms with the reality of the situation.

Another friend of Hill's, James Francis, who had known him for over a decade, also testified in court. He had met Clay a few times when Hill brought her along on their camping trips. Francis understood that Hill wanted to keep the affair a secret, and he respected his friend's wishes. On March 20, the day the couple went missing, both Francis and Ashlin spoke to Hill through amateur radio. Hill seemed to be in high spirits, enjoying his time in the Wonnangatta Valley.

According to Ashlin, Hill was "like a pig in shit" and couldn't have been happier while camping with Clay. Francis also shared that Hill seemed like his usual self during their last interaction. It was a heartbreaking testimony that highlighted the happy memories of Hill and Clay, making their sudden disappearance all the more tragic.

The trial continues as the jury tries to piece together the events leading up to the couple's disappearance and alleged murder. It was a case that shook the community and left everyone wondering what could have gone wrong in a seemingly perfect relationship.

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