The trial of Gregory Stuart Lynn took a dramatic turn as forensic evidence linking Carol Clay to blood stains found in the canopy of Russell Hill’s car was presented before the jury at Victoria’s Supreme Court.
Mark Gellatly, a forensic officer, testified that he discovered six small “apparent” blood stains and a “jelly-like” fatty deposit in the canopy of Mr. Hill’s Toyota LandCruiser during an examination in February 2022. While testing could not definitively confirm the stains as blood, DNA analysis of one stain and the fatty deposit provided strong evidence that it originated from Mrs. Clay.
Mr. Gellatly also noted that splatter analysis indicated a “forceful event” had occurred in the canopy, suggesting a violent altercation had taken place. However, he could not determine the exact mechanism of the event.
Prosecutors allege that Mr. Lynn murdered Mr. Hill and Mrs. Clay, who went missing during a camping trip in the Wonnangatta Valley in 2020. They believe Mr. Lynn killed the couple after a confrontation with Mr. Hill. In contrast, Mr. Lynn’s defense argues that both deaths were tragic accidents.
During the trial, Mr. Lynn’s barrister, Dermot Dann KC, revealed that his client had provided an account to police claiming that Mrs. Clay was accidentally shot in the head during a struggle over a gun, and Mr. Hill died after falling on a knife.
The jury now faces the difficult task of determining the truth behind the events that led to the deaths of Mr. Hill and Mrs. Clay. As the trial continues, more evidence will be presented to shed light on the mysterious circumstances surrounding this tragic case.