Latest news with #GregLynn
ABC News
7 hours ago
- ABC News
Court date set for High Country killer Greg Lynn to fight for appeal
A date has been set for the next step in High Country killer Greg Lynn's push to overturn his murder conviction. A jury last year found Lynn, 58, guilty of Carol Clay's murder but acquitted him of murdering Russell Hill in Victoria's High Country in March 2020. On Wednesday, a court heard the date for the former Jetstar pilot's application for leave to appeal — where it will be decided whether Lynn's appeal against his conviction can proceed — had been set for October 31. Lynn was sentenced to 32 years' jail last year over Ms Clay's murder. Ms Clay, 73, was shot in a struggle that that also claimed the life of her lover, Mr Hill, 74. During his trial, the prosecution argued Lynn's "disproportionate" actions to contaminate the crime scene and dispose of the bodies was incriminating conduct that pointed to murder. However, Lynn's lawyers described a scenario of two tragic, accidental killings. The pair were last seen alive during their camping trip in the Wonnangatta Valley, about five hours east of Melbourne, in March 2020. The trial heard Lynn crossed paths with the retired campers, where an argument over his hunting activities, loud music and Mr Hill's drone escalated into struggles over a gun and a knife. Lynn claimed Mr Hill stole his shotgun, and the two men had wrestled over it, and that Ms Clay was shot in the head when the weapon discharged. He said Mr Hill was also accidentally killed during a subsequent tussle over a knife. Lynn was the only survivor and there were no witnesses. During his trial, Lynn claimed he torched Ms Clay and Mr Hill's campsite fearing nobody would believe the deaths were accidental. He admitted to transporting the pair's bodies and dumping them near the remote Union Spur Track, where he later returned to incinerate them. Lynn was taken into custody in late 2021, and soon afterwards, Mr Hill and Ms Clay's remains were found. During sentencing remarks, Justice Michael Croucher called Ms Clay's death "a very grave example of murder". But he also said there were elements of the case that remained unclear, including exactly what unfolded during the deadly fight at Bucks Camp, whether Lynn had a motive, and the order in which the campers died. "I am satisfied Mrs Clay was killed instantly when she was shot to the head with Mr Lynn's shotgun," the judge said. "It is a grave crime to extinguish the life of another violently." Lynn pleaded not guilty during the trial and has maintained his innocence, formally lodging his appeal of the verdict in November. According to court documents released by the Supreme Court of Victoria, Lynn's lawyers have appealed based on four grounds, including the argument "a substantial miscarriage of justice" happened due to the jury's decision making. If his appeal is unsuccessful, Lynn will have to serve at least 24 years behind bars before he is eligible for parole.
ABC News
7 days ago
- ABC News
No psychometric testing review in Australian aviation after Erin Patterson, Greg Lynn cases
The aviation sector was once home to two of the nation's most high-profile murderers, however documents reveal Airservices Australia and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority have not reviewed their systems of psychometric testing. The ABC sought documents through the Freedom of Information (FOI) process about former air traffic controller Erin Patterson, former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn and the testing used to assess the suitability of people in the aviation industry. Last week, Patterson was found guilty of three counts of murder and one of attempted murder, for fatally poisoning her lunch guests with a beef Wellington dish containing death cap mushrooms. Former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn was found guilty of murdering Carol Clay during a campsite dispute in Victoria's High Country in 2020. The fight, which was not witnessed by anyone else, also resulted in the death of Ms Clay's companion, Russell Hill. Lynn continues to maintain his innocence, arguing that he was not to blame for either death and is appealing the jury's decision that he murdered Ms Clay. Erin Patterson, then Erin Scutter, was employed by Airservices Australia as an air traffic controller from February 12, 2001 to November 28, 2002. She was charged with murder in 2023. The ABC sought documents from Airservices Australia that covered any reviews or reports on the psychometric testing regime in the four years to May 2025. Psychometric tests measure individual's mental capabilities and behavioural style, and are used by government departments and private companies to assess candidates and employees. The tests may be used to assess suitability for roles, suggesting how someone would cope in jobs that involve stressful or demanding tasks. In addition, Airservices was requested to check for any meetings about psychometric testing that including a senior management member in the same time period. Its response to both queries was that nothing was found, despite liaising with its people and culture department, who manage the providers of Airservices' psychometric testing. "P&C confirmed they do not hold any relevant documents, and neither were they aware of any review or report in this regard." Asked for further information, Airservices Australia declined to comment beyond confirming the dates of Erin Patterson's employment. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has been asked repeatedly about its testing since Greg Lynn was charged with murder. The FOI documents revealed that in March 2022, a journalist from The Australian asked how Greg Lynn passed a medical exam months after the High Country deaths. The extensive response discussed the assessment process for people to hold "aviation medical certificates" including mental health checks. "Aviation medical examiners, community consulting medical practitioners and the CASA Medical Officers together apply their extensive clinical and aviation medical experience to work with the person holding the certificate, to ensure their mental health is not an issue for their aviation activities," CASA said. "Personality and behaviour issues are not the same as issues with mental health or the presence of mental illness, although they can be linked. "Although violent offenders may be more likely to have a mental health disorder than people who do not commit violent acts, it is important to be clear that people with mental illness are not destined to become violent offenders, and most violent offenders do not have a mental illness." Psychometric testing is used to measure intellectual aptitude and personality traits, rather than as a method to diagnose a mental health condition. CASA also has a system in place for the reporting of "unsafe behaviours" such as excessive drinking, which are "reviewed and investigated as appropriate". Contacted about the assessment and any changes since that time, a CASA spokesperson said the agency "thoroughly assesses the health of every commercial airline pilot and air traffic controller". "Further psychometric testing may be used in specific situations where necessary, such as where a head injury or mild cognitive impairment is involved," the spokesperson said. "CASA works closely with community medical practitioners and aviation employers to identify and address current, and the risk of future, health issues." The trial of Greg Lynn over the deaths of Carol Clay and Russell Hill in the remote Wonnangatta Valley may have transfixed the nation, but it didn't appear to cause discussion at Airservices Australia. In a three-year period covering his arrest and eventual conviction, "Greg Lynn was not the subject of discussion, correspondence, meetings etc", a spokesperson said. While the name "Greg Lynn" appeared in the results captured by routine media summary emails that collate articles from news media websites, which are then circulated to Airservices personnel for interest, an FOI request returned no responses. A separate request for documents relating to Erin Patterson was declined, on the grounds the documents were exempt due to "affecting enforcement of law", concerned "Commonwealth-State relations" and could impact the "personal privacy" of Patterson and others. In declining the documents, Airservices Australia said it had consulted with officers of the Victorian government, but that the "ongoing matter currently before the courts" meant any release of the material "could reasonably be expected to prejudice the conduct of the investigation". "I consider that disclosure of the documents would prejudice the current investigations on foot. I consider it likely that the documents and the parties involved, will be subject to scrutiny over matters which have not been thoroughly investigated by the appropriate law enforcement agency," it said. In refusing the release, the decision maker said if the documents were made public, it was likely that "the relevant parties would be discouraged from actively participating in the current investigation" and this could prejudice the current investigation. The Freedom of Information (FOI) process — also called Right To Information (RTI) in some jurisdictions — aims to give people access to information created by government agencies and departments. The vast majority of requests are from people seeking their own records or details of their interactions with a department. Federally the department that fields the most requests is Home Affairs (which manages visas) and Services Australia (which manages Centrelink). In states and territories, most applications tend to be to agencies that deal with the public, such as the police and hospitals. Journalists, researchers, think-tanks and politicians also use the process to examine government decision making and outcomes. Search "FOI" on the website of the department or agency you are seeking information from. Charges may apply.
