Firearms expert key in camper murders case
THE prosecution will rely on phone taps and a firearms expert while trying to prove a pilot murdered two campers in the Victorian Alps, a court has heard.
Gregory Lynn, 55, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday after pleading not guilty to murdering two campers at a remote high country campsite in March 2020.
Police allege the airline pilot killed Russell Hill and Carol Clay while camping in the Wonnangatta Valley.
The pair vanished in the Victorian high country on March 20, 2020 and were declared missing when their burned out campsite was discovered a few days later.
Their bodies were found near Dargo in November last year, just days after Mr Lynn was charged with their murder. He was arrested at a remote campsite at Arbuckle Junction in Gippsland.
On Monday, the court heard the crown will be relying on phone records, the transcript of an “ongoing” interview, intercepted phone calls and digital surveillance material to prove their case.
Mr Lynn’s lawyer Dermot Dann QC told the court he had 14 folders of material that would be necessary during the committal hearing in January.
The court heard four witnesses will be called to give evidence during the hearing, including ballistics expert Paul Griffiths and forensics officer Mark Gellatly.
Crown prosecutor John Dickie reminded the court Mr Griffiths was unavailable for the duration of the four day hearing, and suggested the firearms expert could appear on another date.
The court heard his evidence was crucial to the case, particularly in terms of the “bullet trajectory”.
Magistrate Brett Sonnet told the parties he only had 733 pages in his brief of evidence, which included a handwritten statement from Mr Lynn.
He aired a “very strong preference” for having all witnesses and parties attend the hearing in person in January and cited previous issues with audiovisual connections in court. “It’s my preference that this matter be conducted in court,” magistrate Sonnet said. “This is a significant case.” Mr Lynn was excused from appearing in court on Monday. He is in custody on remand and did not apply for bail.
The matter will return to court on January 16 for the four day committal hearing.