Widow breaks silence after Greg Lynn found not guilty of murdering camper Russell Hill
Robyn Hill said she was 'hoping for a better verdict' by the end of the 'very long process'.
The heartbroken widow of Victorian man Russell Hill conceded she was hoping "for a better verdict" after a jury yesterday found Greg Lynn not guilty of murdering her late husband. But, she said she was pleased Lynn was convicted of the murder of Hill's secret lover Carol Clay.
Speaking through tears outside of her Drouin home, in the West Gippsland region, 90 kilometres east of Melbourne, Robyn Hill spoke of the "very long process" and of her "concerns" about the trial, saying she's glad "it's finally over" despite the outcome not being what she'd hoped.
Twelve jurors on Tuesday found Hill, a 57-year-old former Jetstar pilot, guilty of murdering camper Clay on March 20, 2020, but not guilty of killing her lover Russell Hill. Clay, 73, and Hill, 74, who were having an affair, went missing from the Wonnangatta Valley, part of Victoria's alpine region, while camping.
Lynn pleaded not guilty, claiming the two deaths were accidental, but admitted burning the crime scene and destroying their bodies.
'Could've been a better verdict', widow says
Speaking with the Herald Sun, Hill admitted that "it could have been a better verdict".
"It’s been a very long [process] and I was very concerned about what the verdict was going to be. When I heard Russell’s [verdict] first, I was really concerned it was going to be Carol not guilty as well.
"An innocent person doesn’t get rid of the bodies… that’s how I looked at it."
Clay and Mr Hill were high school sweethearts who had rekindled their relationship in secret in 2006. Ms Hill — who listened to the verdict via audiovisual link — said she was satisfied that Lynn was convicted on at least one of the charges.
"Now we’ve just got to wait for his sentence in July," she said.
Victoria Police issue statement
Meanwhile, Victoria Police on Tuesday issued a statement in the wake of the verdict, acknowledging "how difficult these past four years have been for" the involved families.
"Our thoughts are with the Hill and Clay families at this time and we acknowledge how difficult these past four years have been for them. Their courage and resilience in the face of their grief, amidst enormous public attention, has been nothing short of extraordinary. We will continue to support them in every way possible following this decision," a spokesperson said.
"We would also like to acknowledge the determination and perseverance of Missing Persons Squad detectives over the course of this exhaustive and complex investigation, as well as the significant support received from a number of specialist areas and local police from right across Victoria Police."
Lynn spent his first night behind bars on Tuesday. He earlier testified he had been deer hunting when he returned to threats from Hill he had drone footage of him too close to the campsite and he would hand it to police. Later that evening, he said Hill took a shotgun from Lynn's car.
Lynn claimed he went to get his gun off Hill, who fired a few warning shots before turning the gun on Lynn. The men struggled over the gun, Lynn said, when another shot went off and hit the side of a ute mirror, which ricocheted and went into Clay's head.
Shot fragments were later found, proving Clay died in a shooting. The former pilot claimed Hill charged at him with a knife, with a second struggle ensuing.
Lynn said he was trying to defend himself when the knife went into Mr Hill's chest, but no evidence was shown to the jury to prove how Hill died. Lynn admitted burning the campsite, putting their bodies in a trailer and driving to the Union Spur Track where he unloaded them and covered them with sticks.
He returned twice, including in November 2020 when he set fire to the couple's remains.
He was arrested a year later, when he told his story to police and led investigators to the bodies, by then comprising 2,100 bone fragments.
with AAP
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