Lachlan Young,21,appeared at Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning over the death of the woman,who came from Clunes,just north of Ballarat.
Lachlan Young,21,has appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning charged with the murder of Hannah McGuire.
Property records show the young couple bought a home together in 2023 in the southern Ballarat suburb of Sebastopol.
Young was arrested at that home on Sunday,when the single-storey brick house was taped off by police as forensic officers combed the property looking for evidence.
Wearing a black-and-white jumper and sporting a blond-tipped mullet,Young sat with his head down in court on Tuesday. He did not speak during the hearing.
McGuire’s father Glenn,mother Debbie and younger brother watched from the public gallery. Her mother sobbed quietly as McGuire’s alleged murderer walked into the dock and briefly looked in their direction.
Hannah McGuire’s grieving parents,Debbie and Glenn McGuire,outside Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.Justin McManus
Young’s lawyer,Crystal Caruana,told the court it was her client’s first time in custody and that he needed his prescribed antidepressant medication.
One woman in the public gallery sitting close to McGuire’s family shook her head when Young’s mental health concerns were flagged.
Caruana said the defence had been given little information about what police allege occurred other than what has already been reported in the media.
“It would appear as though police have swooped very quickly in this matter,” she said.
Lachlan Young,the man accused of murdering young Ballarat woman Hannah McGuire.Instagram
Young did not apply for bail and Magistrate Guillaume Bailin remanded him in custody.
During the brief hearing,police prosecutor Steven Repac successfully applied for additional time to prepare the brief of evidence,arguing the case was complex and spanned multiple crime scenes.
“There is a number of technical analyses of CCTV hard drives ... including deleted material that needs to be obtained and re-examined if possible,” Repac said. The court heard investigators were also seeking to obtain and analyse DNA evidence.
Court documents released to the media show Young is accused of murdering McGuire in Sebastopol on Friday.
Outside the court,a lawyer speaking on behalf of the McGuire family,Brooke Tamanika,said the 23-year-old’s death had dealt a devastating blow to her loved ones and the community.
“As you can imagine,this is a very devastating time for the family,for Hannah’s loved ones,and for our community as a whole,” Tamanika said.
“The family have been assisting the police. However,I cannot comment on the status of the matter. I would ask that everyone is mindful of the family during this period of time,that you respect their privacy and you give them time to mourn the loss of Hannah.”
The body of McGuire, as “a bright young woman with a heart of gold” by friends and family,was found on Friday morning in a car set alight near State Forest Road in Scarsdale,about 25 kilometres south-west of Ballarat.
Hannah McGuire,23,who was found dead in Scarsdale on April 5.Supplied
On Sunday,police arrested Young and a 22-year-old man in Sebastopol. The 22-year-old was released pending further inquiries and Young was charged with murder on Monday afternoon.
On Tuesday morning,Premier Jacinta Allan offered her condolences to the McGuire family and said the state government would reach out to councils in Ballarat and surrounds to offer support.
“It’s April 9 and already 18 Australian women have been killed in 2024. This is unacceptable and it has to stop,” Allan said.
“Women don’t just deserve the right,they must have the right to live and work and move safely around our community. It is just unacceptable that too many women are losing their lives at the hands of a violent perpetrator.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan offered her condolences to the family of 23-year-old Hannah McGuire,whose body was found in a burnt-out car in bushland near Ballarat.
“I think that it is incumbent upon all of us to reflect on those statistics because behind every statistic is a woman,a family and a community who are grieving.”
The Clunes Cricket Club has set up a fundraiser for McGuire’s family,who are well known in the Clunes community and run the local pub,the National Hotel.
AFL footballer Nick Hind,who is from Clunes and plays for Essendon,shared the fundraiser for the McGuire family on Instagram.
“Absolutely devastating. Such a kind and gentle person,” Hind wrote. “Rest in peace Hannah.”
Hannah McGuire’s parents,Debbie and Glenn McGuire,leave court.Justin McManus
Caitlin Stepnell,a childhood friend,paid tribute on social media and said she would donate money from sales at her hair salon in the coming weeks to McGuire’s family and for her funeral.
“As many of you may know Han lost her life. It has broken many hearts,including my own,” Stepnell said.
“Han was a huge,huge part of my life ... also a huge part of my business. Han was one of a few who pushed me to start my own business[and] supported me the whole way.”
Young will return to court in September.
McGuire’s death comes after the high-profile disappearance of in February and the subsequent alleged to have murdered her.
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