Last week, Lynn sought bail from Melbourne’s Supreme Court, with his legal team contending that the prosecution’s case lacked strength and therefore warranted his release.
However, on Thursday, Supreme Court Justice David Beach determined that the former Jetstar pilot did not satisfy the stringent requirements needed for bail under exceptional circumstances.
Lynn faces charges related to the murder of 73-year-old Carol Clay, who vanished from a secluded camping area in Victoria’s northeast in March 2020, along with her friend, 74-year-old Russell Hill.
In support of Lynn, his wife Melanie and son Geordie attended the court session to hear the ruling.
The duo entered the crowded courtroom hand-in-hand, mirroring the united front they presented during Lynn’s initial high-profile trial.
As journalists swarmed around them, Melanie and Geordie exited the scene without offering any comments.
The pair were pursued across Lonsdale Street in hot pursuit by reporters before making their way into the chambers of Lynn’s legal team.
Former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn has been refused bail
Lynn is accused of murdering Carol Clay (above)
A media pack chased Melanie and Geordie across the road outside the Supreme Court of Victoria on Thursday
Lynn’s defence barrister Dermot Dann KC provided no comment on the decision before he walked into a nearby building with Melanie and Geordie.
Wearing a black suit and clinging onto some documents, Lynn had entered the courtroom at 9.30am flanked by two custody officers.
He showed little emotion as the decision was handed down, glancing at his loved ones before being led back to jail.
Last week, prosecutors opposed his bail, arguing the case against him was strong and he could not meet the high bar of having exceptional circumstances to permit release.
‘The court has concluded that bail must be refused,’ Justice Beach said.
The respected judge did not explain his ruling in the two-minute hearing, saying his written reasons would be made public on Thursday afternoon.
Prosecutor Mark Gibson KC alleged Ms Clay was shot in the head by a bullet from Lynn’s gun.
Lynn continues to maintain his innocence, claiming the incident was accidental.
Melanie and son Geordie Lynn were set upon by reporters outside court on Thursday
Melanie Lynn attended court in Melbourne on Thursday
His barrister Dermot Dann KC argued Lynn should be freed on bail as the prosecution case was weak and had ‘particular problems’.
He said it was accepted that his client did not pose an unacceptable risk to endangering the community, and claimed Lynn faced difficult conditions in custody as he awaited trial.
Any risk Lynn posed could be addressed by ‘stringent conditions’ being applied to his bail, he said.
The accused killer’s son Geordie put forward his ‘life savings’ as a bail guarantor, and offered to accommodate Lynn at his home, the defence barrister said.
He had hoped to care for his father while he awaited his second Supreme Court of Victoria trial.
Mr Gibson had argued that the ‘bare bones facts’ of the allegation were serious enough to deny bail.
‘It was his shotgun, he was present, and there was post-offence conduct which we submit was extreme,’ he said.
‘When you look at all those matters, open to conclude … that this is a case which is quite strong.
A court sketch of Greg Lynn on Thursday
Lynn was acquitted of the murder of Russell Hill (pictured)
‘A finding of guilt is well open [to a jury]. Bail should be refused.’
Lynn claimed Ms Clay was shot accidentally at the campsite after a firearm discharged and hit her in the head.
His barrister submitted Lynn had been assaulted while spending an extended period in custody awaiting trial and argued Lynn should be granted bail due to ‘exceptional’ circumstances.
The court heard Lynn has spent two years and three months on remand, which Mr Dann said ‘has to be factored into delay’.
‘He is presumed innocent and has the right to liberty,’ Mr Dann said.
‘He’s got a tight family unit … he’s got a role to play in that family unit.’
Mr Dann had argued Lynn’s son was willing to use the equity in his $475,000 property, along with his ‘life savings’ of between $30,000 and $70,000, to fund his father’s bail.
‘We say it’s significant that he’s [Geordie] prepared to put up his life savings,’ Mr Dann said.
Lynn’s barrister Dermot Dann, KC (front) had hoped to secure his client’s release on Thursday
The court previously heard Lynn and his wife would have celebrated 22 years of marriage last month.
He also said his client was vulnerable in custody and was placed in an isolation unit for a period while in jail.
Mr Dann labelled the case against his client as weak and said Lynn would not be an unacceptable risk to the community if released on bail.
Lynn’s bid for freedom was launched after a panel of three Court of Appeal judges overturned his murder conviction for Ms Clay in December.
It was declared he must face a retrial because he had suffered a substantial miscarriage of justice in his first trial in June 2024 due to blunders by the prosecutor.
No date for a new trial has been allocated.
