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AAP
AAP
National
Tara Cosoleto

Accused killer to give evidence in missing campers case

Greg Lynn is set to give evidence in his defence at his murder trial. (Paul Tyquin/AAP PHOTOS)

Airline pilot Greg Lynn will try to convince jurors he's not a killer when he gives evidence in the murder trial of missing campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay. 

Lynn, 57, is accused of killing the couple in Victoria's northeast in March 2020 and then disposing of their bodies in bushland before going back months later to burn his remains. 

In his record of interview, Lynn set out his version of events, telling officers Mrs Clay was accidentally shot in the head as he and Mr Hill tussled over his shotgun. 

Mr Hill had taken Lynn's gun and was threatening to show police drone footage of the pilot hunting deer near their campsite, Lynn told the officers. 

He claimed after Mrs Clay was shot, Mr Hill came at him with a knife and was stabbed in the chest in the ensuing struggle. 

Lynn told police once he realised they were both dead, he used his experience as an airline pilot to formulate a plan to "save" himself. 

That included moving the bodies to the remote bushland of the Union Spur track and then going back in November 2020 to burn the remains. 

Lynn's story will be tested on Thursday as he gives evidence before a jury in the Supreme Court in Melbourne. 

His barrister Dermot Dann KC confirmed Lynn would be the only witness called in the defence case.

Prosecutor Daniel Porceddu concluded the Crown's case on Wednesday afternoon, with Detective Senior Constable Brett Florence the final witness to give evidence. 

Melanie Lynn, wife of Greg Lynn (file image)
Parts of a bugged conversation between Melanie Lynn and her husband were played to the jury. (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)

He confirmed police bugged Lynn's home before his November 2021 arrest, recording a conversation Lynn and his wife Melanie had about the missing campers. 

The couple had been watching a 60 Minutes program where detectives were seeking information about a 4WD and trailer seen on the Great Alpine Road.

The episode showed photos taken from road cameras the day after the alleged murders.

While the recording of the Lynns was not played to the court, parts of their conversation were read to the jury. 

Mrs Lynn told her husband the 4WD looked like his Nissan Patrol, Mr Porceddu told the court. 

Greg Lynn's painted Nissan Patrol  and him painting it
The jury was told Greg Lynn painted his 4WD a lighter colour months after two campers were killed. (HANDOUT/SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA)

Lynn was then captured on CCTV footage a week later removing an awning from his vehicle at his home in Caroline Springs. 

He had already painted the 4WD a lighter beige colour in June 2020, the jury was told.

Mr Dann also took Detective Florence through sections of Lynn's interview with police, outlining what Lynn said and asking him to confirm whether his claims were true. 

Detective Florence conceded several times that Lynn's information was correct, including that the canopy of Mr Hill's LandCruiser had been open at the time of the deaths.

Forensic experts found blood and human tissue inside the canopy after Lynn's police interview, Detective Florence confirmed.

Mr Dann suggested to the detective that Lynn had been "brutally honest" in his interview and any statements made that could be confirmed by evidence had been. 

Detective Florence conceded that was the case but said it was still a one-sided scenario. 

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