Widow breaks silence after Greg Lynn found not guilty of murder of camper Russell Hill

The heartbroken widow of Victorian man Russell Hill has admitted she was hoping for “a better verdict” after a jury yesterday found Greg Lynn not guilty of murdering her late husband. But she said she was pleased Lynn had been found guilty of killing Hill’s secret lover Carol Clay.

Speaking through tears outside her home in Drouin, West Gippsland, 90 kilometers east of Melbourne, Robyn Hill spoke of the “very long process” and her “concerns” about the trial, saying she happy “that it’s finally finished” despite the result not being what she was hoping for.

On Tuesday, twelve jurors found Hill, a 57-year-old former Jetstar pilot, guilty of murdering camper Clay on March 20, 2020, but not guilty of murdering his lover Russell Hill. Clay, 73, and Hill, 74, who were having an affair, disappeared from the Wonnangatta Valley, part of Victoria’s Alpine region, while camping.

Lynn pleaded not guilty, saying both deaths were accidental, but admitted to burning the crime scene and destroying their bodies.

“It could have been a better verdict,” says the widow

Speaking to the Herald Sun, Hill admitted “it could have been a better verdict”.

“It’s been a very long (process) and I was very worried about what the verdict would be. When I first heard Russell’s (verdict), I was really worried that Carol would also be not guilty .

“An innocent person doesn’t get rid of bodies… that’s how I saw it.”

Clay and Mr Hill were high school sweethearts who had secretly rekindled their relationship in 2006. Ms Hill – who listened to the verdict via audio-visual link – said she was pleased that Lynn had been found guilty of at least one of the charges.

“All we have to do now is wait for his sentence in July,” she said.

Victoria Police release statement

Separately, Victoria Police released a statement on Tuesday following the verdict, acknowledging “how difficult the last four years have been for” the families involved.

“Our thoughts are with the Hill and Clay families at this time and we recognize how difficult these last four years have been for them. Their courage and resilience in the face of their grief, amid enormous public attention, has been “We will continue to support them in every way possible following this decision,” a spokesperson said.

“We would also like to acknowledge the determination and perseverance of detectives from the Missing Persons Squad during this exhaustive and complex investigation, as well as the significant support received from a number of specialist areas and local police across the Victoria Police.”

Lynn spent her first night behind bars Tuesday. He said earlier that he was deer hunting when he returned to Hill’s threats, that he had drone footage of him too close to the campsite and that he would turn it over to police. Later that evening, he said Hill took a shotgun from Lynn’s car.

Lynn claimed he went to get his gun from Hill, who fired a few warning shots before turning the gun on Lynn. The men struggled to control the weapon, Lynn said, when another shot went off and hit the side of a mirror, which ricocheted and entered Clay’s head.

Bullet fragments were later found, proving that Clay had died in a shootout. The former pilot claimed Hill charged him with a knife, leading to a second struggle.

Lynn said he was trying to defend himself when the knife pierced Mr Hill’s chest, but no evidence was presented to the jury to prove how Hill died. Lynn admitted to burning the campsite, putting their bodies in a trailer and driving to the Union Spur Track where he unloaded them and covered them with sticks.

He returned twice, including in November 2020 when he set fire to the couple’s remains.

He was arrested a year later, after telling his story to police and leading investigators to the bodies, which then contained 2,100 bone fragments.

with PAA

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