Prosecutors will outline their case against an airline captain accused of the double murder of Russell Hill and Carol Clay at a campsite in Victoria’s alpine region.
Greg Lynn, 57, pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and a jury has been empanelled in Melbourne’s supreme court ahead of trial openings on Friday.
Twelve jurors and two substitutes have been empanelled.
Lawyers from both sides will open their case on Friday morning, beginning with Crown prosecutor Daniel Porceddu.
Justice Michael Croucher told jurors on Thursday that prosecutors would allege Lynn killed Clay, 73, and Hill, 74, while they were camping at Bucks Camp in the Wonnangatta Valley.
He said Lynn was working as an airline captain for Jetstar at the time of the alleged murders.
“It will be alleged Mr Lynn shot Ms Clay in the head, as a result killing her, and that Mr Lynn killed Mr Hill,” he told the jury.
“These events are alleged to have occurred on 20 March 2020.”
Lynn is represented by defence barrister Dermot Dann KC and Michael McGrath.
After a four-to-six-week trial, the jury will have to come to a unanimous verdict about whether Lynn is guilty of two counts of murder.
If the jury does not find him guilty of murder, it may deliberate on two alternative charges of manslaughter, or find him not guilty of all charges.
After the empanelment on Thursday, Croucher told the six women and eight men selected for the jury not to consume any media on the case.
“It’s your role, as the jury, to consider the evidence and decide what the facts are in this case,” he said.
“Your duty is to consider this case using your head, not your heart.”
The judge warned the jurors that they could face criminal charges if they conducted their own research about the trial.