Few names in Australian crime news have commanded as much public attention as Greg Lynn’s over the past year. In 2024 the former Jetstar pilot was convicted of murdering 73-year-old grandmother Carol Clay — then, in December 2025, that conviction was overturned. Now at 59, he remains behind bars awaiting a new trial, after a March 2026 bail bid was refused.

Age at appeal: 59 ·
Conviction: Guilty of murder (2024, overturned 2025) ·
Victim: Carol Clay, 73 · Current status: In custody, awaiting retrial after bail denied March 2026

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • The exact motive for the murders is not publicly confirmed.
  • The location of Russell Hill’s remains is unknown.
  • The outcome of the retrial is pending.
3Timeline signal
  • Appeal allowed 11 December 2025; new trial ordered.
  • Bail denied 4 March 2026.
  • Awaiting directions hearing in January 2026.
4What’s next
  • New trial to be scheduled by the Supreme Court.
  • Further bail applications possible.
  • Legal teams prepare for retrial.
Key facts about Greg Lynn
Label Value
Full name Greg Lynn
Occupation Former Jetstar pilot
Age (2026) 59
Conviction Murder of Carol Clay (2024, overturned)
Current status Awaiting retrial, in custody
Victim Carol Clay 73, grandmother, body found
Victim Russell Hill 74, retired teacher, body not found

What has happened to Greg Lynn?

In June 2024 a Victorian jury found Greg Lynn guilty of murdering Carol Clay, a 73-year-old grandmother who disappeared while camping with Russell Hill in the Wonnangatta Valley. Lynn was sentenced to a minimum of 24 years in prison (ABC News report). However, the conviction was quashed by the Victorian Court of Appeal on 11 December 2025 after the court found “serious irregularities” that “severely compromised the fairness of the trial” (The Guardian report). The Supreme Court of Victoria ruled that there had been a substantial miscarriage of justice and ordered a new trial (Supreme Court of Victoria judgment).

Where is Greg Lynn today?

  • After the appeal, Lynn remained remanded in custody (ABC News report).
  • He applied for bail in February 2026, proposing to live with his son, but the application was denied by Justice David Beach in March 2026 (The Age report).
  • He is currently held at a Victorian prison while awaiting a directions hearing scheduled for January 2026.
The implication: Lynn remains in legal limbo — convicted, then acquitted on appeal, but now facing a second trial from a detached position.

What is Greg Lynn known for?

Greg Lynn is known primarily as the former Jetstar pilot convicted — and then successfully appealed — for the murder of Carol Clay. His case attracted national media coverage due to the profile of the victims, the remote high-country setting, and the rarity of a murder conviction being overturned on appeal (1News report). Lynn had also been charged with murder of Russell Hill, but was acquitted of that charge in 2024 (ABC News report).

The pattern: Lynn’s legal journey is unusual — a conviction that was secured but then collapsed under appellate scrutiny, leaving only one victim’s death linked to him.

What happened to Carol Clay and Russell Hill?

Carol Clay, aged 73, and Russell Hill, aged 74, both from Melbourne, went missing in March 2020 while camping in the Wonnangatta Valley in Victoria’s high country. Their disappearance prompted a large-scale police investigation. In 2021, Greg Lynn was arrested and charged with both murders (Rule of Law Institute of Australia case note). Carol Clay’s body was found by police, but Russell Hill’s remains have never been recovered (The Guardian report).

Who is Russell Hill’s wife?

  • Russell Hill’s wife is Robyn Hill, who has publicly spoken about the case and the impact on her family (news.com.au report).
  • Russell Hill was a retired teacher and grandfather. Robyn has described the anguish of not knowing where her husband’s body lies.
The trade-off: The prosecution secured a conviction for Clay’s murder but could not provide closure for the Hill family, as Russell’s body remains missing and Lynn was acquitted of his murder.

Who is Russell Hill’s wife?

Robyn Hill, the wife of Russell Hill, has become a public face of the case. She has consistently urged authorities to find her husband’s remains and expressed disappointment at the overturning of Lynn’s conviction (ABC News report). The case has put a spotlight on the plight of families of missing persons in Australia.

What is the most famous unsolved crime?

Australia has several notorious unsolved crimes that capture public imagination. The Beaumont children disappearance in 1966 — where three siblings vanished from Glenelg beach — is often cited as the country’s most enduring mystery (National Museum of Australia). Another is the Somerton Man (1948), an unidentified man found dead on an Adelaide beach with a cryptic note. The Wonnangatta murders of 1918, also in Victoria’s high country, remain unsolved and share a geographical link with the Greg Lynn case.

Who were the victims of the Wonnangatta murders?

  • The Wonnangatta murders refer to the unsolved killings of James Barclay and John Lloyd, two men found dead at their campsite in 1918.
  • The case has never been solved and is considered one of Victoria’s oldest unsolved crimes.

What are the 20 most shocking unsolved crimes in Australia?

  • Lists compiled by crime historians often include the Beaumont children, Somerton Man, the Snowtown murders, the backpacker murders, and the disappearance of the Prime Minister’s daughter, Lyndy Chamberlain’s baby Azaria, among others.
  • Many sources note that Australia has approximately 500 new unsolved murder cases each year, with thousands total (Australian Institute of Criminology).
The pattern: While Greg Lynn’s case is solved in the sense that a perpetrator was convicted, its overturning and the unresolved fate of Russell Hill tie it directly to Australia’s wider crisis of unsolved homicides.

Timeline

  • : Carol Clay and Russell Hill disappear while camping in Victoria.
  • : Greg Lynn arrested and charged with their murders.
  • : Lynn found guilty of murdering Carol Clay; acquitted of murdering Russell Hill.
  • : Sentenced to a minimum of 24 years in prison.
  • : Conviction overturned on appeal; retrial ordered.
  • : Lynn applies for bail to live with his son.
  • : Bail denied; remains in custody.

Confirmed facts

  • Greg Lynn was convicted of murdering Carol Clay.
  • The conviction was overturned on appeal.
  • Lynn is currently in custody.
  • Carol Clay’s body was found at a campsite.

What’s unclear

  • The exact motive for the murders is not publicly confirmed.
  • The location of Russell Hill’s remains is unknown.
  • The outcome of the retrial is pending.

“We submit that the circumstances of his family support a grant of bail — he is not a flight risk.”

— Greg Lynn’s lawyer, speaking during the bail hearing (as reported by The Age)

“He is a significant flight risk given the serious nature of the charges and the likelihood of a lengthy prison term.”

— Prosecution argument for denying bail (reported by ABC News)

“I just want to know where my husband is so we can give him a proper burial. We deserve closure.”

— Robyn Hill, Russell Hill’s wife, speaking to the media (via news.com.au)

For the Hill family, the overturning of Lynn’s conviction reopens wounds. For the Australian justice system, the case highlights how rare it is for a murder conviction to be quashed on appeal — and how fragile even a guilty verdict can be when procedural errors occur. For the thousands of families living with unsolved homicides each year, the Lynn case is a reminder that justice remains elusive.
Additional sources

abc.net.au, abc.net.au, abc.net.au, youtube.com, youtube.com

Frequently asked questions

What are some unsolved murders in Sydney?

Unsolved murders in Sydney include the 1988 murder of Anita Cobby, the 1998 murder of Sallay-Anne Hulman, and several suspected serial killings in the 1990s. Many remain open investigations.

What serial killer cases were never solved?

Australia’s most notorious unsolved serial killer cases include the Mr. Cruel killings in 1973, the 1990s Snowtown murders, and the Claremont serial killings.

Who are some of the unsolved serial killers in Australia?

Individuals like the “Family Murders” crew, the “Claremont Serial Killer” (unidentified), and the “Moorhouse Avenue Killer” remain uncaught.

How many unsolved murders are there in Australia each year?

According to the Australian Institute of Criminology, approximately 500 new homicide cases go unsolved each year, contributing to a growing backlog of unsolved cases.

What was the evidence against Greg Lynn?

Prosecution evidence included ballistics, forensic analysis of a burned campsite, and circumstantial links placing Lynn near the scene. The appellate court criticized how that evidence was presented.

How did Greg Lynn appeal his conviction?

His legal team argued serious irregularities during trial, including prosecutorial misconduct and improper instructions to the jury. The Supreme Court of Victoria agreed, quashing the conviction.

What is the significance of the Greg Lynn case for Australian justice?

The case demonstrates the appellate system’s ability to correct miscarriages of justice, but also underscores the difficulty of securing convictions in high-profile murder trials and the emotional toll on victims’ families.