GREG Lynn has been found guilty of murdering Wonnangatta Valley camper Carol Clay, but not guilty of murdering Russell Hill.

The 12-person jury laid down their split verdict on Tuesday afternoon after a five-week trial and just over a week of deliberations.

Mr Lynn (57) pleaded not guilty to two charges of murder, arguing the deaths of campers Russell Hill (74) and Carol Clay (73) at a Wonnangatta Valley campsite on March 20, 2020 were an accident.

The former pilot, as the defence’s only witness, told the court during the trial that Ms Clay was shot in the head while he and Mr Hill struggled over control of Mr Lynn’s shotgun after a dispute, and Mr Hill died in a subsequent struggle, after a knife accidentally plunged into his chest.

Mr Lynn’s lawyer, Dermot Dann KC, previously told the court his client had made a “series of terrible choices” to cover up the pair’s deaths, which included destroying evidence and burning the remains of Mr Hill and Ms Clay. 

Mr Lynn told the jury his actions in destroying evidence at the campsite were a "panicked" response to the "horrendous" scene before him. 

"All I can say to the families is that I am very sorry for your suffering that I caused," he said.

"I haven't behaved well, I've made some poor decisions, but murder, as I understand it, I'm innocent of."

Prosecutors had described Mr Lynn’s series of events as a lie and argued his actions to destroy evidence and cover up the deaths of the campers as ones made by a man who had committed murder. 

Crown prosecutor Daniel Porceddu alleged Mr Hill was killed first by unknown means, most likely over a dispute about Mr Hill’s drone, and Ms Clay was later shot in the head because she was a witness in the violent murder of Mr Hill.

A total of 49 witnesses were called throughout the trial including friends and family members of Ms Clay and Mr Hill, police detective, experts and park rangers and workers in the Wonnangatta Valley. 

The court heard through family members of Ms Clay, including her daughter Emma Davies, the pair had a “loving” and “caring” relationship, that had lasted more than a decade and had been concealed from Mr Hill's friends and wife. 

Wife of Mr Hill of more than 50 years, Robyn Hill, told the court her husband had told her he was camping alone when he left their Drouin home for the Wonnangatta Valley.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Martin O’Brien released a statement acknowledging the jury’s verdict, and thanked the work of its officers during the four-year long case.  

“Our thoughts are with the Hill and Clay families at this time and we acknowledge how difficult these past four years have been for them,” he said. 

“Their courage and resilience in the face of their grief, amidst enormous public attention, has been nothing short of extraordinary.

“We would also like to acknowledge the determination and perseverance of Missing Persons Squad detectives over the course of this exhaustive and complex investigation, as well as the significant support received from a number of specialist areas and local police from right across Victoria Police.”

Mr Lynn has been in custody since November 2021, and will remain in custody to await a sentence. 

A mention hearing has been set for July 19.

Anybody found guilty of murder is liable to at least 25 years imprisonment, with the maximum sentence of life imprisonment.