Teeth linked to allegedly murdered camper Russell Hill were located in bushland, jurors were told, as his accused killer admitted burning the bodies of Mr Hill and his lover Carol Clay with kerosene.
Former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn faces 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 couple, likely after a dispute with Hill, while the former Jetstar captain argues the couple died accidentally after Hill stole his gun on the night of March 20.
Last week, the jury was told that Lynn did not dispute burning their camp and removing their bodies from the site.
Childhood sweethearts Carol Clay and Russell Hill disappear on a camping trip. Image: Supplied
He also admitted abandoning the remains in bushland along the Union Spur track near Dargo, and returned in November of the same year to burn the bodies.
Prosecutors, led by Daniel Porceddu, argued his actions were an “implied admission” of guilt, while his lawyer, Dermot Dann KC, said his client had made a “series of terrible decisions” for fear of being unfairly blamed.
Damaged teeth linked to Mr Hill
On Thursday, forensic odontologist Dr. Lyndall Smythe said she was asked to examine five burned teeth and a porcelain bridge located next to bone fragments in late 2021.
He said he received records from Mr. Hill and Ms. Clay’s dentists to compare their teeth.
Mrs. Clay, he said, had a full set of teeth other than her wisdom teeth, while Mr. Hill only had nine teeth.
Prosecutors allege he murdered the couple, probably after a dispute with Hill, while the former Jetstar captain (pictured) argues the couple died accidentally after Hill stole his gun on the night of March 20.
The jury heard that he had a full denture replacing his upper teeth and was missing many of his lower teeth, where he also had a porcelain bridge.
Dr Smythe said her opinion was that all of the teeth located came from Mr Hill, but two – a molar and a premolar – were able to match her records.
He said there was “pretty significant” damage due to the fire, including loss of crowns and fragmentation.
The bridge, Dr. Smythe said, matched Mr. Hill’s dental records, but could not be definitively linked.
Campsite set on fire with gasoline
On Wednesday, coroner’s officer George
He said part of his job was to look for “things that could potentially cause ignition.”
Photos taken by former Maffra police officer Madeline Rachford of Russell Hill and Carol Clay’s destroyed camp. Image: Supplied/Supreme Court of Victoria
The jury was told that in their opinion a single fire broke out in the tent near where two gas cylinders were located.
Burned items were identified inside the store, including a camping stove, clothing, bedding, gas bottles, a solar panel and a car mirror.
Mr Xydias agreed that Mr Lynn’s account that they placed his camping equipment in the body of the tent before setting it on fire with petrol was “consistent” with the evidence.
A detective told jurors he found the store “totally destroyed.” Image: Supplied/Supreme Court of Victoria
Items damaged by the fire were located at the campsite of Russell Hill and Carol Clay. Image: Supplied/Supreme Court of Victoria
The objects, recovered from the ashes, underwent forensic examination. Image: Supplied/Supreme Court of Victoria
Prosecutors allege that Hill was killed first, likely after a dispute with Lynn over the former’s drone, and Clay was shot to death second as a witness.
They suggested that neither of them posed any threat to Lynn.
Through his attorney, Mr. Lynn claimed that Ms. Clay was first accidentally killed when the two men struggled over his gun.
According to him, Hill died after approaching Lynn with a knife and accidentally falling on him while they were fighting for the second time.
The trial before Judge Michael Croucher continues on Friday.
