Hannah McGuire’s accused killer pleads not guilty as her family packs courtroom

Accused killer Lachlan Young will have his trial fast-tracked to the Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to murdering ex-girlfriend Hannah McGuire in front of a packed regional courtroom.

Young, 21, was beamed into Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Thursday from Melbourne Assessment Prison, where he is currently being held, sporting a mullet, pink T-shirt, and heavily tattooed arms.

More than 50 friends and family of McGuire packed into the courtroom to listen to the proceedings, many wearing black jumpers with the 23-year-old’s image printed on the chest and the words, ‘She matters – remembering Hannah McGuire’.

There, the court heard, Young had elected to have the trial fast-tracked to the Supreme Court, which avoids a public committal hearing where evidence against an accused is usually tested for the first time.

Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz noted there was a high public interest in the process being fast-tracked, with Young ordered to appear again on October 3.

Mykytowycz noted Young had signed a form acknowledging that this meant he had elected to stand trial.

When asked how he pleaded, Young replied: “Not guilty, your honour.”

Supporters of the victim packed into the courtroom and sat shoulder to shoulder, with some forced to stand to fit inside.

McGuire’s family members could be seen wiping tears from their faces and consoling each other during the hearing, including the 23-year-old’s parents Glenn and Debbie McGuire.

McGuire’s body was found in a burnt-out car in April near State Forest Road in Scarsdale, about 25 kilometres south-west of Ballarat, before Young was arrested and charged with a single count of murder.

Police allege that McGuire was murdered at Sebastopol, where property records show the young couple bought a home together last year.

An earlier court hearing was told extra time was needed to prepare the brief of evidence, with police arguing the case was complex and spanned multiple crime scenes.

“Hannah touched our lives in profound ways and her memory will forever remain etched in our soul. Hannah, we miss the way your presence made everything feel right,” her mother told attendees at her daughter’s funeral earlier this year.

There, Nicole van Berkel, a lifelong friend of McGuire’s parents, also remembered her as an exceptional young woman who was determined to succeed in sport and her education, inspiring those around her.

According to research group Counting Dead Women Australia, McGuire was the 18th woman allegedly killed in violent incidents this year.

McGuire’s death occurred after the high-profile disappearance of Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy in February and the subsequent arrest of a 22-year-old man alleged to have murdered her.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

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