Accused High Country killer Gregory Lynn wins bid to withhold “high-risk” evidence

Detectives analyzed thousands of secretly obtained recordings – varying from one minute to 30 minutes in length – from covert devices placed in Lynn’s Nissan Patrol and his home in Caroline Springs, Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard as part of the police investigation.

During Monday’s hearing, the court heard that police began surveillance and the use of listening devices in September 2021.

Detective Leading Senior Constable Daniel Passingham said as part of his role in investigating the missing person’s unit, he heard about 3,000 of them when police learned Lynn was on his way to Arbuckle Junction, where he was eventually arrested.

The court also heard that forensic officers investigating Hill and Clay’s deaths were asked to consider whether it was plausible that Clay was shot in the head with a 12-gauge shotgun while Hill and Lynn were looking for the gun near the hood of Hills Ute rang Wonnangatta Valley, on March 20, 2020.

Ballistics expert Paul Griffiths revealed he was asked to recreate possible scenarios in which a woman Clay’s height – about 160 centimeters – could be shot during a possible gun fight.

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This included examining three scenarios in which Clay could have been standing, half-crouching, or crouched at the back of the utility when a bullet pierced the passenger-side mirror and hit Clay in the head.

Griffiths said while he couldn’t rule out any of the three scenarios, the possibility that a woman Clay’s size was standing when she was shot was “plausible.”

He was not asked to offer an opinion on whether the firearm might have been fired accidentally or on purpose in this potential scenario.

Last week, the court heard police allege that Lynn, a former Jetstar pilot, left his home in a dark-colored 1997 Nissan Patrol on March 16, 2020 and traveled to the Wonnangatta Valley.

Police believe he set up camp there just before Hill and Clay arrived to stay at the same campground.

There, police claimed Lynn got into an altercation with the couple before killing them with “murderous intent” using his trailer to move their remains to another location.

Lynn, who has denied the murder charges, is currently facing a hearing before a judge to determine whether his case will go to trial.

The hearing continues.

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