Split verdict: Greg Lynn guilty of one camper murder

Russell Hill and Carol Clay went missing from the Wonnangatta Valley, part of Victoria's alpine region, while camping together.

Secret lovers Carol Clay and Russell Hill went missing while camping together. (HANDOUT/VICTORIA POLICE)

Lynn claimed the two deaths were accidental, but admitted burning the crime scene and destroying their bodies.

Forty-nine witnesses were called during the trial, including national park rangers, weed sprayers, campers, deer hunters, police forensic and ballistics experts and the families of Mr Hill, 74, and Mrs Clay, 73.

Mr Hill was married and the pair were having a secret affair together when they disappeared.

Lynn, Mr Hill and Mrs Clay were the only people who stayed at Bucks Camp that evening, on March 20, 2020.

Lynn said he had been out deer hunting when he returned to threats from Mr Hill that he had drone footage of Lynn hunting too close to the campsite that he would turn into police.

Later that evening, he said Mr Hill took a shotgun and ammunition from Lynn's car.

Lynn claimed he went to get his gun off Mr Hill, who shot off a few warning shots before turning the gun on Lynn.

Greg Lynn admitted burning the couple's campsite. (HANDOUT/SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA)

Lynn and Mr Hill struggled over the gun, Lynn claimed, when another shot went off and hit the side of Mr Hill's ute mirror, which ricocheted off and went into Mrs Clay's head.

Shot fragments were later found, proving that Mrs Clay died in a shooting.

Mr Hill then charged at Lynn with a knife, the pilot claimed, with a second struggle ensuing.

Lynn said he was trying to defend himself when the knife went into Mr Hill's chest and there was no evidence shown to the jury about how Mr Hill died.

Lynn admitted to burning the couple's campsite, putting their bodies in a trailer and driving to the Union Spur Track where he unloaded their bodies and covered them with sticks.

He returned twice, including in November 2020 when he set fire to Mr Hill and Mrs Clay's remains.

He was arrested a year later, where he told his story to police and led investigators to the couple's bodies, which were discovered to be broken down into 2100 bone fragments.

Lynn maintained he was innocent of murder and admitted to the jury his actions in covering up the crime, including repainting his 4WD used to dispose of the bodies, were "despicable".

He had offered to plead guilty to destruction of evidence charges before the trial began, his defence team said.

Greg Lynn repainted his 4WD which he used to dispose of the bodies. (HANDOUT/SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA)

But the prosecution said Lynn's story was a work of fiction and his conduct after the killings proved beyond a reasonable double that he intended to murder the couple.

Twelve jurors began deliberating on their two verdicts on June 17, returning to the court more than a week later with their decision.

"Good afternoon, we the jury have come to a verdict, thank you," the jury's note read.

Asked for a verdict on Mr Hill's murder, the jury's foreperson told the court on Tuesday "not guilty".

Asked about the murder of Mrs Clay, the foreperson replied "guilty".

Lynn, wearing a suit and blue jumper, remained silent as the two verdicts were read aloud, raising his eyebrows after learning his fate.

Justice Michael Croucher thanked the jury for their service as he discharged the 12 jurors.

"I expect it's a difficult process," he said.

Lynn waved to his son Geordie, who was seated in front of him inside the court room, after the jury left the court.

He spoke to his lawyers before he was escorted from the court flanked by custody officers and will be sentenced at a later date.

The maximum penalty for murder is life in prison.

Lynn will return to court on July 19 for a mention where dates will be set.