A dramatic twist has unfolded in one of Australia’s most closely watched criminal cases: a former airline pilot’s conviction for murder has been overturned on appeal, with the Victorian Court of Appeal ordering a retried murder trial after finding serious irregularities in the original proceedings. The decision has left the families of the victims devastated and revived debates about fairness, evidence and justice in high‑profile criminal cases.
A conviction set aside — what the court decided
On 11 December 2025, the Victorian Court of Appeal quashed the 2024 murder conviction of Greg Lynn, a 59‑year‑old former Jetstar pilot, who had been sentenced to 32 years’ imprisonment with a minimum of 24 years for the killing of 73‑year‑old camper Carol Clay at a remote campsite in Victoria’s Wonnangatta Valley in March 2020.
Justices Karin Emerton, Phillip Priest and Peter Kidd ruled that there were “serious irregularities” in the conduct of the original trial that resulted in a substantial miscarriage of justice, and therefore the guilty verdict could not stand. They ordered that Mr Lynn’s conviction be set aside and a new trial be held at a later date.
The ruling means Lynn will return to court on 28 January 2026 for further directions, including the possibility of applying for bail while awaiting his retrial.
The original case: a remote murder that gripped the nation
The case began with the mysterious disappearance of Carol Clay, 73, and her companion Russell Hill, 74, from their campsite in March 2020. Both were found dead months later near their burned‑out campsite in Victoria’s rugged High Country. Lynn, who had been camping nearby, was arrested after a lengthy police investigation.
In a sensational trial in the Victorian Supreme Court in June 2024, a jury found Lynn guilty of murdering Carol Clay, but acquitted him of murdering Russell Hill. He admitted to burning the campsite and disposing of the bodies but maintained that the deaths were tragic accidents — Clay allegedly shot during a struggle over a shotgun, and Hill fatally injured by a knife he was holding.
The judge at that trial, Justice Michael Croucher, described Clay’s death as “a violent, brutal, horrific death, with a weapon designed to kill,” when sentencing Lynn to a long prison term.
What the appeal judges found — misconduct and miscarriage of justice
The Court of Appeal’s decision hinged on findings that aspects of the original trial fundamentally compromised its fairness:
- Prosecutorial irregularities — The judges concluded that during the trial, the prosecution repeatedly breached key legal fairness rules, including failing properly to put critical matters to Lynn and other witnesses before challenging their evidence. This included problematic closing arguments that judges said could have misled the jury.
- Misuse of evidence — The handling and presentation of certain expert evidence — including ballistics testimony — was also found to have been mishandled in ways that might have skewed the jury’s view of the case.
- Cumulative effect — Although no single error was enough on its own to overturn the verdict, the accumulation of irregularities, the court held, gave rise to a substantial miscarriage of justice — enough to warrant a retrial.
Appeal judges emphasised that prosecutors must maintain strict fairness in their conduct, especially in cases involving serious charges like murder, and noted that their closing submissions should not divert jurors from properly considering expert evidence.
Retrial, bail and the road ahead
With Lynn’s conviction now set aside, the next chapter of the legal saga is a fresh trial, where the prosecution will have to prove the murder charge again, this time under trial conditions free from the procedural pitfalls the Court of Appeal identified.
Legal commentators and the public alike are watching closely whether the prosecution will pursue a murder charge again or consider alternate charges, such as manslaughter, depending on the evidence available. Prior to the appeal, the Court of Appeal asked prosecutors whether they might seek a manslaughter charge in a retrial context.
Lynn remains in custody ahead of the January 28 appearance, and his legal team has signalled it may seek bail before the scheduled retrial.
Families in distress, community reaction
The appeal outcome has been deeply distressing for the families of the victims. Members of Carol Clay’s and Russell Hill’s families were in court as the decision was handed down; onlookers reported emotional scenes, including weeping as Lynn left the courtroom.
Detective Sergeant Brett Florence, who led the investigation, cautioned the media to respect the families’ privacy and noted their devastation at the overturned conviction.
Public reaction has also been mixed. Some legal analysts welcomed the appellate court’s strict enforcement of procedural fairness, while others empathised with the families’ sense of renewed anguish. The case has underscored how appeals can redraw the course of high‑profile prosecutions — especially where trial conduct is judged deficient.
Broader implications — justice, fairness and high‑profile cases
This landmark appellate decision highlights the importance of strict procedural fairness in criminal proceedings, particularly where the stakes — a lengthy prison sentence for a violent crime — are so high. Courts have a duty to ensure trials are free of misconduct that might distort jurors’ assessments of evidence or a defendant’s credibility.
Legal scholars note that the Lynn appeal serves as a reminder that no verdict is final until it has withstood rigorous review, and that appellate courts play a vital role in safeguarding the integrity of the criminal justice system. Some believe the case will be studied in legal circles as a cautionary exemplar of how prosecutorial and procedural missteps can unravel a major criminal conviction.
Conclusion — unfinished business in the High Country
The overturning of Greg Lynn’s murder conviction marks a dramatic reversal in a case that has gripped Australia for years. What began as a tragic remote disappearance and a controversial conviction has now become a story of legal redress and judicial scrutiny — with a new trial looming in 2026.
For the families of Carol Clay and Russell Hill, the legal journey is far from over — and for the wider community, the case raises enduring questions about how justice is pursued and administered when a life is lost in the remote Australian wilderness, and when procedural fairness collides with the quest for accountability.
7 years in the field, from local radio to digital newsrooms. Loves chasing the stories that matter to everyday Aussies – whether it’s climate, cost of living or the next big thing in tech.
