Greg Lynn, a former Jetstar pilot has been sentenced to at least 24 years in prison for the murder of Carol Clay, with the judge describing the crime as “brutal” and “horrific.” The sentencing took place in the Supreme Court of Victoria, Melbourne, following Lynn’s conviction in June this year.
Justice Michael Croucher handed down the sentence on Friday, condemning Lynn’s actions at a remote campsite in the Wonnangatta Valley in March 2020.Clay, 73, had been camping with her companion Russell Hill, 74, when she was shot dead by Lynn. He was sentenced to a maximum of 32 years, with a non-parole period of 24 years, as reported by the Guardian.
Croucher’s ruling says, “It was a violent, brutal, horrific death, with a weapon designed to kill.” The court heard that after the killing, Lynn panicked and tried to cover up the crime, setting fire to the campsite and attempting to destroy the bodies.
While Lynn had pleaded not guilty to the murder of both Clay and Hill, arguing that their deaths occurred during a struggle involving a knife and gun, the jury convicted him only of Clay’s murder. He was acquitted of Hill’s murder. Croucher noted that a “brusque interaction” had occurred between Lynn and Hill before Clay’s death but said the exact motive for the killing remained unclear.
Lynn attempted to conceal the crime by hiding Clay’s body in a remote location, and later returning to burn her remains. “This was an appalling thing for her loved ones to learn,” Croucher said, adding that the delay in revealing the location of Clay’s body created “agonising uncertainty” for her family.
During a court hearing, Lynn expressed his regret over his actions after the deaths. He wrote, “I accept that my decision to flee the scene and attempt to disappear … was selfish and callous in the extreme.” However, he maintained his innocence regarding the actual killings and expressed his intention to appeal the conviction.
Clay and Hill, who had been having an affair for 15 years, were both well-known within their communities.
Lynn has been in custody since his arrest in November 2021 and will be eligible for parole in his late seventies.
