Accused camper killer Gregory Lynn will remain behind bars after losing a second bid for freedom over charges he murdered camper Carol Clay.
Lynn, 60, arrived at the Supreme Court on Tuesday for the second time in a week, as Chief Justice Richard Niall rejected the former pilot’s claims that his time behind bars had left him fearing for his safety.
The accused killer gave evidence in his own bail hearing last week, claiming he had been attacked by other inmates who also called him the “killer of old people” and “Greg Lynn from TV”.
Lynn told the court he had also been poked, spat on, had a milk bottle filled with faeces thrown on him and kept in “draconian” conditions since his arrest in November 2021.
He is expected to face trial next year over the alleged murder of Clay, 73, in the Wonnangatta Valley in Victoria’s High Country in March 2020.
Lynn told the court that due to tensions with other inmates he had been spent stretches in solitary confinement, had to work in a factory packing breakfast boxes for which he was paid “peanuts”, and had become convinced others wanted to inform on him.
Lynn said he no longer felt safe in custody and was unable to be moved out of protection.
“I am the victim here,” he said.
Lynn maintains his innocence over Clay’s murder and asked to be bailed to live with his eldest son, Geordie Lynn.
Under questioning last week by Crown prosecutor Mark Gibson, KC, Lynn rejected suggestions he might take his airline hostess wife’s security pass and steal a plane if released on bail.
Gibson opposed Lynn’s release on bail, and told the court while the accused had the right to be treated as an innocent man, it appeared to be Lynn’s choice to remain in isolation.
Lynn said he was willing to abide by all conditions imposed on him if he was granted bail.
Defence barrister Dermot Dann, KC, argued his client should be granted bail due to the length of time he’d been on remand, the onerous conditions in custody and the availability of a $70,000 bail surety from the son of the accused man.
But Niall on Tuesday rejected the submission that any delay until retrial would be inordinate.
In June 2024, a jury found Lynn guilty of murdering Clay, and acquitted him of murdering fellow camper Russell Hill, 74. He was sentenced to 32 years’ imprisonment with a 24-year non-parole period before his conviction was set aside and a retrial granted.
Lynn was also refused bail by another Supreme Court judge earlier this year.
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