Forensic Anthropologist Dr. Soren Blau to Testify in Greg Lynn Murder Trial

A forensic anthropologist is set to explain to a jury the discovery of more than 2000 bone fragments linked to the disappearance of two elderly campers, in a gripping trial unfolding in the Victorian Supreme Court.

Gregory Stuart Lynn, a 57-year-old former airline pilot, is facing allegations of murdering Russell Hill, 74, and Carol Clay, 73, while camping in the remote Wonnangatta Valley in March 2020. Despite the grave accusations, Lynn has pleaded not guilty, claiming that the deaths were accidental and were triggered by a firearm incident involving Mr. Hill.

Forensic anthropologist Soren Blau, who was overseas on secondment to the International Commission on Missing Persons, prerecorded her evidence for the trial earlier this month. The jury was shown the first half-hour of her testimony, where she detailed the systematic search conducted in the bushland near Dargo that led to the discovery of the bone fragments.

The court heard that more than 2000 burnt bone fragments, identified as belonging to the missing couple, were found below a felled tree in early December. Lynn’s barrister, Dermot Dann KC, argued that his client had provided a truthful account of the events leading to the deaths and had cooperated with authorities in locating the remains.

Prosecutors, however, allege that Lynn killed Mr. Hill before shooting Mrs. Clay as a witness to the crime. Lynn maintains that both deaths were accidental, with Mrs. Clay being shot in the head during a struggle over a shotgun, and Mr. Hill falling on a knife in the aftermath.

The trial has been filled with dramatic twists and turns, with Lynn not disputing that he set fire to the campsite and destroyed the bodies out of fear of being wrongly blamed. As the proceedings continue, the jury is faced with the challenging task of determining the truth behind the tragic disappearance of the two campers.

The case has captivated the public and legal experts alike, with many eagerly awaiting the final verdict in this complex and emotionally charged trial.