Greg Lynn trial: Photos show charred remains of Russell Hill and Carol Clay’s campsite

Teeth linked to allegedly murdered camper Russell Hill were located in bushland, a jury has been told, as his accused killer admitted he burned the bodies with kerosene.

Mr Lynn is facing trial in Victoria’s Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to killing the elderly couple while camping in the state’s remote High Country in March 2020.

Prosecutors allege he murdered the pair, likely following a dispute with Mr Hill, while the former Jetstar captain argues the pair died accidentally after Mr Hill swiped his gun in the evening of March 20.

Last week, the jury was told Mr Lynn did not dispute burning their campsite and removing their bodies from the scene.

He also admitted to disposing of the remains in bushland along the Union Spur track near Dargo, returning in November the same year to burn the bodies.

Prosecutors, led by Daniel Porceddu, argued his actions were an “implied admission” of guilt, while his barrister, Dermot Dann KC, said his client had made a “series of terrible choices” fearing he would be wrongly blamed.

Damaged teeth linked to Mr Hill

On Thursday, forensic odontologist Dr Lyndall Smythe said she was asked to examine five burnt teeth and a porcelain bridge located alongside bone fragments in late 2021. 

She said she received records from Mr Hill and Mrs Clay’s dentists to compare the teeth to.

Mrs Clay, she said, had a full set of teeth apart from her wisdom teeth, while Mr Hill only had nine teeth present.

The jury heard he had a full denture prosthesis replacing his upper teeth and was missing many from his bottom set, where he also had a porcelain bridge.

Dr Smythe said her opinion was that all the teeth located had come from Mr Hill, but two — a molar and premolar — were able to be matched to his records.

The bridge, Dr Smythe said, was a match for Mr Hill’s dental records, but could not be definitively linked.

She said there was “quite significant” damage due to fire, including loss of the crowns and fragmentation, but the evidence was consistent with the damage occurring after death.

Bones found at campsite

Crime scene examiner Leah Thowless told the jury she was asked to search the campsite again after Mr Lynn’s arrest in November 2021.

She confirmed the lead investigator, detective sergeant Brett Florence, had recounted the accused man’s account of the deaths as he asked her to take a second look.

Over two days in March 2022, Ms Thowless said she conducted a grid search at Bucks Camp, locating multiple bone fragments and a twisted piece of lead — later identified as a bullet.

Ms Thowless told the jury it was “outside my area of expertise” to say if the bones were human.

On Wednesday, DNA expert Dr Dadna Hartman told the jury she was asked to examine cranial bones found at Bucks Camp, finding one was linked by DNA to Mrs Clay.

Campsite set on fire with petrol

On Wednesday, forensic officer George Xydias gave evidence he was asked by police to examine the charred remains of Mr Hill and Mrs Clay’s camp on April 1, 2020.

He said part of his job was to look for “things that could potentially cause ignition”.

In his opinion, the jury was told, a single fire began in the tent near where two gas bottles were located.

Burnt items including a camping stove, clothing, bedding, gas bottles, a solar panel and a car mirror were identified within the tent.

Mr Xydias agreed there Mr Lynn’s account of placing their camping equipment in the body of the tent before setting it ablaze with petrol was “consistent” with the evidence.

Prosecutors allege Mr Hill was killed first, likely after a dispute with Mr Lynn over the former’s drone, and Ms Clay was shot dead second as a witness.

They suggested neither posed any threat to Mr Lynn.

Through his barrister, Mr Lynn has claimed Mrs Clay was accidentally killed first as the two men wrestled over his gun.

On his account, Mr Hill died after approaching Mr Lynn with a knife, falling on it accidentally as they fought a second time.

The trial before Justice Michael Croucher will resume on Friday.