Found Deceased Australia - Russell Hill, 74, & Carol Clay, 72, Wonnangatta Valley, 20 Mar 2020 #6 *charges*

[Kemug]

I couldn't find anything on that subject but there's an obligation on police to caution a person in an interview that their statements may be used in evidence. I'm sure he's an intelligent man and would have asked for one, but then again he may be arrogant enough to think he didn't need one.

I think he is intelligent and arrogant enough to realise that without a lawyer present he would be able to use that fact as a defence in the future.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

She told the court Lynn's car was one of a dozen picked up by automatic number plate recognition cameras at the Hotham Alpine Resort between 9.40am and 10am on March 21, 2020.

Phone data had placed Mr Hill's phone in the area at the time, prompting officers to review footage.

So it was Russell's phone that was picked up, not GLs.
Wonder what he did with it after that. And when did he think to turn it off or get rid of it.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/russell-hill-and-carol-clay-witness-saw-strange-behaviour-from-campers/news-story/54429d6e0504d3b03e9a075202d6dde9

Missing camper Carol Clay was allegedly shot in the head in an “accidental discharge” as two men struggled over a shotgun, a court has heard.

Former Jetstar pilot Gregory Lynn has been charged with the murder of Ms Clay and her longtime friend Russell Hill following the pair’s disappearance while camping in the remote Wonnangatta Valley in March 2020.
Mr Lynn has pleaded not guilty.

Forensic expert Mark Gellatly was called to give evidence before Mr Lynn’s committal hearing at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

He told the court the police investigation into the alleged murder of Ms Clay, 73, and Mr Hill, 74, found DNA and biological material belonging to Ms Clay on the canopy of Mr Hill’s vehicle.

This, he said, fitted with the alleged narrative police were working to confirm, that Mr Hill and Mr Lynn, 56, had a confrontation on March 20, 2020, and Ms Clay died from an alleged shotgun shell to the head.

Under questioning from Mr Lynn’s lawyer, Dermot Dann KC, Mr Gellatly confirmed the “scenario” police believes occurred was Ms Clay was shot while Mr Lynn and Mr Hill fought over Mr Lynn’s shotgun.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

 

[TootsieFootsie]

https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/russell-hill-and-carol-clay-witness-saw-strange-behaviour-from-campers/news-story/54429d6e0504d3b03e9a075202d6dde9

Giving evidence before the second day of Mr Lynn’s committal hearing, missing persons squad Detective Senior Constable Abbey Justin said police had allegedly tracked the missing couple’s phone using data from Telstra.

She told the court the phone was identified as being in the area of an automatic number plate recognition system camera around 9.45am on March 21, 2020 – the morning after they were allegedly killed.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Accused killer of secret campers shares his version of events

Elderly camper Carol Clay was shot through the head and killed when her secret lover Russell Hill attempted to grab former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn's gun, a court has head.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Elderly camper Carol Clay was shot through the head and killed when her secret lover Russell Hill attempted to grab a gun away from former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn, a court has head.

Gregory Lynn, 55, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday charged with the murders of Mr Hill, 74, and Ms Clay, 73.

Forensic expert Mark Gellatly revealed Lynn claims Ms Clay was killed instantly when his shotgun accidentally discharged a round into her head.


What about Russell, is he saying that was an accident too

Edited I meant to say if GL is saying what happened to Carol was accidental, then how come Russell is not still alive.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I'm thinking next we'll hear how he then shot Russell in self defence after the accidental killing of Carol.

 

[JBowie]

I'm thinking next we'll hear how he then shot Russell in self defence after the accidental killing of Carol.

If that's going to be their line of defence when this goes to trial, thankfully, juries are not entirely stupid.

 

[Doesitmakesense]

I can't see why someone would need to go to another person's campsite with their shotgun with them. I always thought guns were meant to be in gunsafes when not actively in use. IMO sounds like GL was trying to at the very least intimate them

 

[Detective Willy]

GL had many opportunities to confess if this was indeed an accident:

IMO he did everything possible to cover up his crimes and then avoid detection.

How much did his wife know about this?

Did he confess to her straight away and she covered this up the whole time or did he only confess to her later on when he knew there was no escaping the charges?

So many questions but IMO he is only trying to worm his way out with an improbable story because it's his last resort. He tried to burn all of the evidence which I believe is very telling and adds to his "guilt".

 

[Kemug]

peaking on Today, former homicide detective Charlie Bezzina said another party seemed to be involved in the elderly pair's disappearance.

Did GL also have a secret camping friend?

 

[Kemug]

I can't see why someone would need to go to another person's campsite with their shotgun with them. I always thought guns were meant to be in gunsafes when not actively in use. IMO sounds like GL was trying to at the very least intimate them

I am thinking now that GL may have shot down Russell's drone. That would certainly have made Russell mad enough to confront him. And cause GL to get rid of the damaged drone.

 

[Doesitmakesense]

I am thinking now that GL may have shot down Russell's drone. That would certainly have made Russell mad enough to confront him. And cause GL to get rid of the damaged drone.

The only thing that makes me think otherwise to this is that CC DNA was on RH car canopy. Now Im no expert but IMO I think it would have to be GL coming to their camp to confront them, not RH going to confront GL

 

[they'll get you]

Accused killer of secret campers shares his version of events

Elderly camper Carol Clay was shot through the head and killed when her secret lover Russell Hill attempted to grab former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn's gun, a court has head.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Elderly camper Carol Clay was shot through the head and killed when her secret lover Russell Hill attempted to grab a gun away from former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn, a court has head.

Gregory Lynn, 55, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday charged with the murders of Mr Hill, 74, and Ms Clay, 73.

Forensic expert Mark Gellatly revealed Lynn claims Ms Clay was killed instantly when his shotgun accidentally discharged a round into her head.


What about Russell, is he saying that was an accident too

Edited I meant to say if GL is saying what happened to Carol was accidental, then how come Russell is not still alive.

…..found DNA and biological material belonging to Ms Clay on the canopy of Mr Hill’s vehicle.

….and Ms Clay died from an alleged shotgun shell to the head.

So if there was blood splatter you’d imagine there would’ve been shotgun shrapnel in the canopy and surrounding area.

 

[silverau]

The only thing that makes me think otherwise to this is that CC DNA was on RH car canopy. Now Im no expert but IMO I think it would have to be GL coming to their camp to confront them, not RH going to confront GL

Yep.

I wonder if the drone caught GL doing something untoward or illegal and GL panicked and went to confront RH?

Edit to add: so it looks like police knew from day one that at least one of the campers was dead or very injured from the vehicle canopy finds.

 

[they'll get you]

20 April 2020

It’s sad knowing CC’s DNA was on the canopy when the vehicle was returned to RH’s wife


Mr Hill's car has been returned to his home where specialist detectives hope to examine it again for further clues

Police to re-examine vehicle of missing camper

The wife of missing camper Russell Hill was unable to speak with her beloved husband one last time because she didn't have an amateur radio licence.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[JudgeJudi]

I always thought guns were meant to be in gunsafes when not actively in use.

Gun safes are usually in a home environment. If you legally own a shotgun and want to take it with you, different rules apply:

"In most circumstances firearms should be transported in the following manner:

• Firearms should be transported in a padded cover or hard case, unloaded and preferably rendered inoperable.
• While being transported, firearms and ammunition should be kept out of sight and stored in separate receptacles that are either secured to the inside of your vehicle or in a lockable component of your vehicle.
• Cartridge ammunition must be stored separately from firearms in a part of the vehicle not readily accessible by an unauthorised person – a lockable glove box would suffice provided the key to the glove box is kept securely by the holder of the firearm licence and cannot be accessed by persons unauthorised to possess ammunition or firearms.

Licence holders should exercise a common sense approach to storage when transporting their firearms and be mindful of all of their obligations.

Licence holders should also be mindful of considerations over and above legislation to ensure firearms are not lost or stolen".

Firearm storage | Safekeeping of guns and firearms | Victoria Police

 

[they'll get you]

"The two were wrestling over the gun causing an accidental discharge, or causing discharge, which struck Ms Clay in the head while positioned on the (passenger) side of Hill's vehicle," he described.

Victoria Police forensic officer Mark Gellatly confirmed that was one scenario considered and evidence found on Hill's car was possibly connected with that.
He examined the inside of Hill's car in May 2020 and found one possible area of blood staining on an armrest

Pilot accused of returning to scene of alleged murder to 'further tamper with remains' of then-missing Melbourne campers

Victoria Police forensic officer Mark Gellatly said some evidence was consistent with an accidental gun sho...

www.9news.com.au

 

[they'll get you]

"One possible bloodstain was located on an armrest," he told the court, but he said further testing was unable to confirm the substance was blood.

On the metal camper canopy at the back of Mr Hill's ute, which was found at the pair's campsite, Mr Gellatly said he detected what was thought to be "the location of splatter blood stains".

Police allege accused killer returned to burn campers' bodies, court documents reveal

The former pilot charged with the murders of two retirees in the Victorian High Country is accused of returning to the area months later to burn the victims' bodies, court documents reveal.

www.abc.net.au

 

[bearbear]

…..found DNA and biological material belonging to Ms Clay on the canopy of Mr Hill’s vehicle.

….and Ms Clay died from an alleged shotgun shell to the head.

So if there was blood splatter you’d imagine there would’ve been shotgun shrapnel in the canopy and surrounding area.

and a bullet somewhere?