Newly unsealed court documents have exposed a disturbing history of violence and police interaction linked to convicted high country murderer Greg Lynn, years before he killed camper Carol Clay.
A Suppressed History Comes to Light
A suppression order, initially imposed in January 2023, officially lapsed this week. This legal gag had prevented media from reporting on Lynn's prior criminal history and his dealings with Victoria Police concerning his first wife, Lisa Lynn. The order was successfully challenged by media organisations following Lynn's conviction for the March 2020 murder of 73-year-old Carol Clay at a remote campsite.
Lisa Lynn was found dead outside her home north of Melbourne in 1999. A coroner later ruled her death resulted from consuming a quantity of drugs and alcohol, and no charges were ever laid in connection with it.
Breaches, Escape, and Allegations of Abuse
The revealed documents detail that Lisa Lynn had obtained an intervention order against her former husband. Greg Lynn breached this order on two separate occasions. First, he attended her Mount Macedon home against the order's conditions. Later, he engaged in a heated phone call with her.
After Lisa complained to police, officers asked Lynn to return a personal organiser he had taken from the family home. Police accompanied him to retrieve the item, but instead of handing it over, Lynn simply walked away to a nearby train station, effectively escaping police custody.
He was subsequently charged with two counts of breaching the intervention order and one of escaping police. In May 1999, Lynn pleaded guilty to these offences in a magistrates court and received a good behaviour bond without a conviction recorded.
During a pre-trial hearing in May 2024 for the camper murders, prosecutors outlined further allegations. They stated Lisa Lynn's parents were prepared to testify about their daughter's fear of Lynn. Her mother claimed in a statement that she believed Greg Lynn was responsible for her daughter's death "via mental torture," alleging Lisa "lived in fear of him" and had documented numerous abuse instances.
Crown prosecutor Daniel Porceddu alleged Lisa was subjected to frequent physical and mental abuse, describing an incident where Lynn allegedly "exploded into a fit of uncontrollable rage" at a Macedon restaurant. Lynn's barrister, Dermot Dann KC, dismissed these claims as "hearsay."
Ongoing Legal Battles and Context
The jury at Lynn's trial for the murders of Carol Clay and Russell Hill was not permitted to hear any of this background information about his past. In June 2024, Lynn was convicted of Clay's murder but acquitted over the death of 74-year-old Russell Hill. He had claimed both deaths were accidental.
Greg Lynn is currently fighting his murder conviction and the subsequent 32-year jail term in the Victorian Court of Appeal. A decision on his appeal is pending.
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence, support is available. In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid.
