Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Kris Swales

Afternoon Update: Greg Lynn’s murder conviction overturned; US-Venezuela tensions escalate; and where to see the Geminid meteors

A police officer with Greg Lynn after his appeal hearing in Melbourne on Thursday.
A police officer with Greg Lynn after his appeal hearing in Melbourne on Thursday. Photograph: James Ross/AAP

Good afternoon.

Greg Lynn has had his conviction for murdering an elderly camper in the Victorian high country overturned in a stunning decision made by the state’s highest court.

The former Jetstar pilot, 59, was found guilty in June last year of murdering 73-year-old grandmother Carol Clay in 2020, but was acquitted of murdering her fellow camper and lover Russell Hill, 74. He was sentenced to a minimum of 24 years in prison for murdering Clay.

The Victorian court of appeal on Thursday ruled that Lynn’s conviction be overturned, and ordered that a new trial should be held in the case.

In their judgment, the judges said: “Unhappily, we have concluded that the conduct of prosecuting counsel so compromised the fairness of the applicant’s trial that a substantial miscarriage of justice resulted.”

Top news

In video

The US Department of Justice has published a 45-second video that it says depicts US military personnel seizing an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast. Nicolás Maduro’s government called the seizure “an act of international piracy”.

What they said …

***

“My belief is that this advertisement portrays the people of Melbourne as ZOMBIES” – a person complaining about a Kia EV ad

Sex and nudity, violence, and health and safety were key concerns among the 5,000 complaints about more than 230 commercials assessed by the regulator in 2025. A series of ads by carmaker Kia topped the list with 86 complaints.

Full Story

The expensive expenses of Anika Wells

The communications and sport minister, Anika Wells, should be flying high this week spruiking Australia’s world-first social media ban – instead she is defending her use of travel entitlements.

Political editor, Tom McIlroy, joins Reged Ahmad to discuss whether this latest controversy will see a change to politicians’ perks.

Listen to the episode here.

Before bed read

The Geminid meteors have been active in our skies since 4 December, building up to the best night of the year to see them on Sunday. Here’s everything you need to know about Australia’s biggest shooting star show and where you can best see it.

Daily word game

Today’s starter word is: IDEA. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.

Sign up

If you would like to receive this Afternoon Update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or start your day with a curated breakdown of the key stories you need to know with our Morning Mail newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.