By Karen Sweeney, Aap
A trial date has been confirmed for accused double killer Greg Lynn, but there’s concerns about his ability to fund the case.
Victoria’s Supreme Court was originally set to hear Lynn’s trial for the murder of campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay in October this year, but those dates will now be used for extensive pre-trial argument ahead of a new trial set to start on 13 February next year.
Judicial Registrar Tim Freeman raised concerns about Lynn’s ability to fund his defence after defence barrister Dermot Dann KC confirmed no funding was in place.
It’s understood there have been delays with Lynn’s application for services through Victorian Legal Aid and Mr Freeman indicated he could ask or order VLA to prioritise the case if required.
Mr Dann said alternative courses to fund the matter privately were also being pursued but they were facing roadblocks with one approach, and issues over an interest that Lynn may have in a property with another option.
A separate legal proceeding over the property is stalled in the civil division of the Supreme Court until the criminal matters are dealt with.
Mr Dann said he would be prepared to continue with pre-trial hearings scheduled to begin on 16 October even if the funding issues remain.
“My client is anxious to maintain this timetable,” he said.
Funding for a February trial may not be a concern if Mr Dann is successful in arguments he is expected to make during those pre-trial hearings, including to have significant part of the prosecution case against Lynn thrown out.
He has previously flagged efforts to have Lynn’s multi-day interview with police removed from the brief of evidence.
Lynn was interviewed by police over four days in November 2021.
Details of his full police interview have been suppressed, along with details from a covertly recorded conversation and statement made by him to police in July 2020.
The court heard prosecutors had filed additional evidence in the case earlier this month, with four statements including one from police about phone records.
More evidence including call charge records may still be filed, prosecutor John Dickie said.
Lynn was charged in November 2021 with murdering the campers, whose missing persons case became one of Australia’s most high-profile crime stories in March 2020.
It’s alleged Lynn, 56, killed the couple on 20 March that year, while they all camped in the remote Wonnangatta area of Victoria’s alpine region.
He faced court by video link from the Melbourne Assessment Prison on Thursday 22 June.
