Greg Lynn murder trial: Burnt teeth linked to missing camper after accused admitted burning bodies with kerosene

Teeth linked to suspected murdered camper Russell Hill were located in bushland, a jury has been told, as the accused killer admitted burning the bodies of Mr Hill and his lover Carol Clay with kerosene.

Former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn is facing trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria after pleading not guilty to murdering the elderly couple while camping in the state’s remote High Country in March 2020.

Prosecutors allege he killed the pair, likely after a dispute with Mr Hill, while the former Jetstar captain claims the pair died accidentally after Mr Hill swiped his gun on the evening of March 20.

Last week the jury was told that Mr Lynn did not dispute that they set fire to their campsite and removed their bodies from the scene.

He also admitted 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 lawyer, Dermot Dann KC, said his client had made a “series of terrible choices” out of fear he would be wrongly blamed .

Damaged teeth linked to Mr Hill

On Thursday, forensic dentist Dr Lyndall Smythe said she was asked to examine five burned teeth and a porcelain bridge in addition to bone fragments in late 2021.

She said she had received data from Mr Hill and Ms Clay’s dentists to compare the teeth against.

Ms. Clay, she said, had a full set of teeth except for her wisdom teeth, while Mr. Hill had just nine teeth.

Prosecutors allege he killed the pair, likely after a dispute with Mr Hill, while the former Jetstar captain (pictured) claims the pair were accidentally killed after Mr Hill swiped his gun on the evening of March 20.

The jury heard he had full dentures to replace his top teeth and many were missing on his bottom teeth, where he also had a porcelain bridge.

Dr. Smythe said she believed all the teeth located came from Mr Hill, but two – a molar and a premolar – could be linked to his records.

She said there was ‘quite significant’ damage from fire, including loss of the 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, forensic officer George

He said part of his job was looking for “things that could potentially cause inflammation.”

Photos taken by former Maffra police officer Madeline Rachford of Russell Hill and Carol Clay’s destroyed campsite. Image: Supplied / Supreme Court of Victoria

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

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

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

A detective told the jury he found the tent ‘completely destroyed’. Image: Supplied / Supreme Court of Victoria

Fire damaged items were located at Russell Hill and Carol Clay’s campsite. Image: Supplied / Supreme Court of Victoria

The objects were recovered from the ashes and 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 that Ms. Clay, as a witness, was shot dead second.

They suggested neither posed a threat to Mr Lynn.

Through his lawyer, Mr. Lynn has claimed that Ms. Clay was accidentally killed first when the two men struggled over his gun.

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

The trial before Judge Michael Croucher continues on Friday.