Pilot’s ‘battle’ in missing campers case

The trial of the man accused of murdering two campers in the Victorian high country has been pushed back to next year.

Former Jetstar pilot Gregory Lynn on Thursday appeared via video link in the Victorian Supreme Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to the murders of Russell Hill and Carol Clay.

Mr Lynn’s lawyer, Dermot Dann KC, told the court that there were “a number” of funding issues regarding his client, the result of which vacated the October trial date for a new date in February to be settled this week.

The court was also told that the defence team would make a number of exclusion applications with respect to elements of the prosecution’s evidence.

Mr Lynn, 56, is accused of murdering the high-school sweethearts in the remote Victorian Alps in March 2020 and was arrested in November 2021 following an extensive police investigation.

Judicial registrar Tim Freeman fixed a pre-trial hearing to begin on October 16 that the court was told could run over multiple weeks.

Mr Dann said Mr Lynn’s funding issues were likely to take a “long time” to be resolved. He said his client’s case was privately funded; however, there was a “battle with that”.

During the hearing the court was also told the Crown had filed a 31-page summary of the prosecution opening, with the trial itself predicted to run for up to six weeks.

Mr Freeman said it was in “everyone’s interest”, including Mr Lynn’s, for the matter to proceed to trial as soon as possible.

But he also said that consequent rulings made on the admissibility of Crown evidence would have a “significant impact” on the complexity of the trial and how the prosecution puts its case.

Mr Lynn was ordered to stand trial following a week-long committal mention in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in January.

The court was told the prosecution case would centre on an alleged interaction between Mr Lynn and Mr Hill, 74, and Ms Clay, 73, in the Wonnangatta Valley.

Mr Lynn remains in custody.