Workmate shares alleged plan to 'roofie' murder victim
Benjamin O'Keefe told the Victorian Supreme Court that Lachlan Young shared his plan to harm his former partner Hannah McGuire on April 2, 2024.
"He started talking about wanting to roofie Hannah and take her out bush and scare her so she wouldn't take the house and other things from him," Mr O'Keefe said in evidence on Tuesday.
Mr O'Keefe claimed Young asked him to act as a getaway driver, which he ultimately declined after speaking to his girlfriend.
Two days later, Mr O'Keefe said he received another message from Young asking him to meet at a nearby corner at midnight.
Mr O'Keefe told the jury he went to the designated spot without his phone but Young wasn't there so he returned home.
He then heard a car horn and went to his front lawn to see Young waiting inside an orange Mitsubishi Triton.
Mr O'Keefe told the jury he did not look inside the ute and instead just obeyed Young's instructions to follow behind in his vehicle.
He claimed they went out to remote bushland where Young drove the Triton into some trees and then ordered Mr O'Keefe to turn his car around.
Young then used a yellow blow torch to set fire to the front of the Triton, Mr O'Keefe told the jury.
After holding the blowtorch there for a few minutes, it's alleged Young then returned to Mr O'Keefe's car but told him to wait a minute.
"(We were) just watching the car to make sure it caught on fire," Mr O'Keefe told the jury.
"That's what Lachie wanted."
Mr O'Keefe claimed Young gave him $45 after the incident although he never explained why.
Young is accused of murdering Ms McGuire in the early hours of April 5, before driving her body in the Triton to remote bushland and setting the ute alight.
The 23-year-old has admitted to killing Ms McGuire but denies the charge of murder, claiming her death was a spontaneous and unplanned incident.
In his opening address, defence barrister Glenn Casement told the jury they should be critical of Mr O'Keefe's evidence, saying he was not a credible witness.
Mr Casement is expected to cross-examine Mr O'Keefe on Wednesday after senior crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill finishes her questioning.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
An accused murderer planned to drug his ex-girlfriend and crash her in a car so he could scare her out of taking their house, one of his workmates claims.
Benjamin O'Keefe told the Victorian Supreme Court that Lachlan Young shared his plan to harm his former partner Hannah McGuire on April 2, 2024.
"He started talking about wanting to roofie Hannah and take her out bush and scare her so she wouldn't take the house and other things from him," Mr O'Keefe said in evidence on Tuesday.
Mr O'Keefe claimed Young asked him to act as a getaway driver, which he ultimately declined after speaking to his girlfriend.
Two days later, Mr O'Keefe said he received another message from Young asking him to meet at a nearby corner at midnight.
Mr O'Keefe told the jury he went to the designated spot without his phone but Young wasn't there so he returned home.
He then heard a car horn and went to his front lawn to see Young waiting inside an orange Mitsubishi Triton.
Mr O'Keefe told the jury he did not look inside the ute and instead just obeyed Young's instructions to follow behind in his vehicle.
He claimed they went out to remote bushland where Young drove the Triton into some trees and then ordered Mr O'Keefe to turn his car around.
Young then used a yellow blow torch to set fire to the front of the Triton, Mr O'Keefe told the jury.
After holding the blowtorch there for a few minutes, it's alleged Young then returned to Mr O'Keefe's car but told him to wait a minute.
"(We were) just watching the car to make sure it caught on fire," Mr O'Keefe told the jury.
"That's what Lachie wanted."
Mr O'Keefe claimed Young gave him $45 after the incident although he never explained why.
Young is accused of murdering Ms McGuire in the early hours of April 5, before driving her body in the Triton to remote bushland and setting the ute alight.
The 23-year-old has admitted to killing Ms McGuire but denies the charge of murder, claiming her death was a spontaneous and unplanned incident.
In his opening address, defence barrister Glenn Casement told the jury they should be critical of Mr O'Keefe's evidence, saying he was not a credible witness.
Mr Casement is expected to cross-examine Mr O'Keefe on Wednesday after senior crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill finishes her questioning.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
An accused murderer planned to drug his ex-girlfriend and crash her in a car so he could scare her out of taking their house, one of his workmates claims.
Benjamin O'Keefe told the Victorian Supreme Court that Lachlan Young shared his plan to harm his former partner Hannah McGuire on April 2, 2024.
"He started talking about wanting to roofie Hannah and take her out bush and scare her so she wouldn't take the house and other things from him," Mr O'Keefe said in evidence on Tuesday.
Mr O'Keefe claimed Young asked him to act as a getaway driver, which he ultimately declined after speaking to his girlfriend.
Two days later, Mr O'Keefe said he received another message from Young asking him to meet at a nearby corner at midnight.
Mr O'Keefe told the jury he went to the designated spot without his phone but Young wasn't there so he returned home.
He then heard a car horn and went to his front lawn to see Young waiting inside an orange Mitsubishi Triton.
Mr O'Keefe told the jury he did not look inside the ute and instead just obeyed Young's instructions to follow behind in his vehicle.
He claimed they went out to remote bushland where Young drove the Triton into some trees and then ordered Mr O'Keefe to turn his car around.
Young then used a yellow blow torch to set fire to the front of the Triton, Mr O'Keefe told the jury.
After holding the blowtorch there for a few minutes, it's alleged Young then returned to Mr O'Keefe's car but told him to wait a minute.
"(We were) just watching the car to make sure it caught on fire," Mr O'Keefe told the jury.
"That's what Lachie wanted."
Mr O'Keefe claimed Young gave him $45 after the incident although he never explained why.
Young is accused of murdering Ms McGuire in the early hours of April 5, before driving her body in the Triton to remote bushland and setting the ute alight.
The 23-year-old has admitted to killing Ms McGuire but denies the charge of murder, claiming her death was a spontaneous and unplanned incident.
In his opening address, defence barrister Glenn Casement told the jury they should be critical of Mr O'Keefe's evidence, saying he was not a credible witness.
Mr Casement is expected to cross-examine Mr O'Keefe on Wednesday after senior crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill finishes her questioning.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
An accused murderer planned to drug his ex-girlfriend and crash her in a car so he could scare her out of taking their house, one of his workmates claims.
Benjamin O'Keefe told the Victorian Supreme Court that Lachlan Young shared his plan to harm his former partner Hannah McGuire on April 2, 2024.
"He started talking about wanting to roofie Hannah and take her out bush and scare her so she wouldn't take the house and other things from him," Mr O'Keefe said in evidence on Tuesday.
Mr O'Keefe claimed Young asked him to act as a getaway driver, which he ultimately declined after speaking to his girlfriend.
Two days later, Mr O'Keefe said he received another message from Young asking him to meet at a nearby corner at midnight.
Mr O'Keefe told the jury he went to the designated spot without his phone but Young wasn't there so he returned home.
He then heard a car horn and went to his front lawn to see Young waiting inside an orange Mitsubishi Triton.
Mr O'Keefe told the jury he did not look inside the ute and instead just obeyed Young's instructions to follow behind in his vehicle.
He claimed they went out to remote bushland where Young drove the Triton into some trees and then ordered Mr O'Keefe to turn his car around.
Young then used a yellow blow torch to set fire to the front of the Triton, Mr O'Keefe told the jury.
After holding the blowtorch there for a few minutes, it's alleged Young then returned to Mr O'Keefe's car but told him to wait a minute.
"(We were) just watching the car to make sure it caught on fire," Mr O'Keefe told the jury.
"That's what Lachie wanted."
Mr O'Keefe claimed Young gave him $45 after the incident although he never explained why.
Young is accused of murdering Ms McGuire in the early hours of April 5, before driving her body in the Triton to remote bushland and setting the ute alight.
The 23-year-old has admitted to killing Ms McGuire but denies the charge of murder, claiming her death was a spontaneous and unplanned incident.
In his opening address, defence barrister Glenn Casement told the jury they should be critical of Mr O'Keefe's evidence, saying he was not a credible witness.
Mr Casement is expected to cross-examine Mr O'Keefe on Wednesday after senior crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill finishes her questioning.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
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- 9 News
Killer claims ex-partner hit her head during argument
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here An accused murderer claims his ex-girlfriend hit her head on the floor and died after one of their arguments became physical. Lachlan Young's barrister made the allegation as he questioned witness Benjamin O'Keefe over his involvement in Hannah McGuire's death. O'Keefe told the Victorian Supreme Court he saw Young set fire to a Mitsubishi Triton early on April 5, 2024, and later learnt McGuire's body was inside. Lachlan Young admitted to killing former partner Hannah McGuire. (Nine) But barrister Glenn Casement claimed O'Keefe knew McGuire was in the ute because Young told him she was dead. The lawyer said Young called O'Keefe at 2.53am on April 5 to say "something had happened". When O'Keefe allegedly arrived at the Sebastopol home in regional Victoria, Young explained he had forcibly pushed McGuire during an argument. McGuire was thrown to the ground and died after she hit her head on the bathroom floor, Casement claimed. Young has admitted he killed McGuire but denied he murdered her, instead offering to plead guilty to manslaughter. Hannah McGuire's former partner Lachlan Young has faced court accused of her murder. (Nine) That offer was rejected by prosecutors at the start of his murder trial. Casement claimed O'Keefe saw McGuire on the floor and devised a plan with Young to move her body to Scarsdale. The lawyer alleged the pair drove in convoy to the remote bushland and, when they arrived, O'Keefe was the one to set fire to the Triton using his own blowtorch. Casement claimed O'Keefe then lied about his involvement to avoid being charged as an accessory to murder. O'Keefe was arrested and questioned over McGuire's death, but he was never charged. He denied all of the defence allegations, repeatedly saying he never went to Young's home and did not know McGuire's body was in the ute. O'Keefe also rejected the claim he was the one to start the fire, maintaining he stayed in his own car as Young lit the blaze. Hannah McGuire, whose body was found in a burnt-out car in regional Victoria. (Nine) He told the jury he had been truthful to police and did not lie about Young's plan to drug McGuire. He claimed Young told him on April 2 that he would 'roofie' McGuire and fabricate a crash with her in a car, so he could scare her out of taking their house. O'Keefe admitted he did go with Young to the Scarsdale bushland and then deleted security camera footage from his home. But he told the jury he wiped the recording because he did not want to be connected to the car fire. He maintained he only suspected McGuire was in the vehicle after he learnt she had died later that morning. O'Keefe said he visited Young after learning the news, worried he may have been implicated in a murder. "I went up to him and said 'Hannah better not have been in that car'," he told the jury. He claimed Young told him McGuire was already dead as she had been suffocated. O'Keefe admitted he did not contact police, instead deciding to drink with Young and then go on a camping trip with friends. He shared what had happened and his mates advised him to go to the police, but he instead returned home and watched a movie. Detectives arrested O'Keefe on April 7 and questioned him for almost two hours over the murder of McGuire. The jury was told O'Keefe learnt in November 2024 that he would not be facing any charges. The trial before Justice James Elliott continues. Help is available from the Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491. Melbourne national Australia Victoria courts crime CONTACT US
The Advertiser
9 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Killer claims ex-partner hit her head during argument
An accused murderer claims his ex-girlfriend hit her head on the floor and died after one of their arguments became physical. Lachlan Young's barrister made the allegation as he questioned witness Benjamin O'Keefe over his involvement in Hannah McGuire's death. Mr O'Keefe told the Victorian Supreme Court he saw Young set fire to a Mitsubishi Triton early on April 5, 2024, and later learnt Ms McGuire's body was inside. But barrister Glenn Casement claimed Mr O'Keefe knew Ms McGuire was in the ute because Young told him she was dead. The lawyer said Young called Mr O'Keefe at 2.53am on April 5 to say "something had happened". When Mr O'Keefe allegedly arrived at the Sebastopol home in regional Victoria, Young explained he had forcibly pushed Ms McGuire during an argument. Ms McGuire was thrown to the ground and died after she hit her head on the bathroom floor, Mr Casement claimed. Young has admitted he killed Ms McGuire but denied he murdered her, instead offering to plead guilty to manslaughter. That offer was rejected by prosecutors at the start of his murder trial. Mr Casement claimed Mr O'Keefe saw Ms McGuire on the floor and devised a plan with Young to move her body to Scarsdale. The lawyer alleged the pair drove in convoy to the remote bushland and, when they arrived, Mr O'Keefe was the one to set fire to the Triton using his own blowtorch. Mr Casement claimed Mr O'Keefe then lied about his involvement to avoid being charged as an accessory to murder. Mr O'Keefe was arrested and questioned over Ms McGuire's death, but he was never charged. He denied all of the defence allegations, repeatedly saying he never went to Young's home and did not know Ms McGuire's body was in the ute. Mr O'Keefe also rejected the claim he was the one to start the fire, maintaining he stayed in his own car as Young lit the blaze. He told the jury he had been truthful to police and did not lie about Young's plan to drug Ms McGuire. He claimed Young told him on April 2 that he would 'roofie' Ms McGuire and fabricate a crash with her in a car, so he could scare her out of taking their house. Mr O'Keefe admitted he did go with Young to the Scarsdale bushland and then deleted security camera footage from his home. But he told the jury he wiped the recording because he did not want to be connected to the car fire. He maintained he only suspected Ms McGuire was in the vehicle after he learnt she had died later that morning. Mr O'Keefe said he visited Young after learning the news, worried he may have been implicated in a murder. "I went up to him and said 'Hannah better not have been in that car'," he told the jury. He claimed Young told him Ms McGuire was already dead as she had been suffocated. Mr O'Keefe admitted he did not contact police, instead deciding to drink with Young and then go on a camping trip with friends. He shared what had happened and his mates advised him to go to the police, but he instead returned home and watched a movie. Detectives arrested Mr O'Keefe on April 7 and questioned him for almost two hours over the murder of Ms McGuire. The jury was told Mr O'Keefe learnt in November 2024 that he would not be facing any charges. The trial before Justice James Elliott continues. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 An accused murderer claims his ex-girlfriend hit her head on the floor and died after one of their arguments became physical. Lachlan Young's barrister made the allegation as he questioned witness Benjamin O'Keefe over his involvement in Hannah McGuire's death. Mr O'Keefe told the Victorian Supreme Court he saw Young set fire to a Mitsubishi Triton early on April 5, 2024, and later learnt Ms McGuire's body was inside. But barrister Glenn Casement claimed Mr O'Keefe knew Ms McGuire was in the ute because Young told him she was dead. The lawyer said Young called Mr O'Keefe at 2.53am on April 5 to say "something had happened". When Mr O'Keefe allegedly arrived at the Sebastopol home in regional Victoria, Young explained he had forcibly pushed Ms McGuire during an argument. Ms McGuire was thrown to the ground and died after she hit her head on the bathroom floor, Mr Casement claimed. Young has admitted he killed Ms McGuire but denied he murdered her, instead offering to plead guilty to manslaughter. That offer was rejected by prosecutors at the start of his murder trial. Mr Casement claimed Mr O'Keefe saw Ms McGuire on the floor and devised a plan with Young to move her body to Scarsdale. The lawyer alleged the pair drove in convoy to the remote bushland and, when they arrived, Mr O'Keefe was the one to set fire to the Triton using his own blowtorch. Mr Casement claimed Mr O'Keefe then lied about his involvement to avoid being charged as an accessory to murder. Mr O'Keefe was arrested and questioned over Ms McGuire's death, but he was never charged. He denied all of the defence allegations, repeatedly saying he never went to Young's home and did not know Ms McGuire's body was in the ute. Mr O'Keefe also rejected the claim he was the one to start the fire, maintaining he stayed in his own car as Young lit the blaze. He told the jury he had been truthful to police and did not lie about Young's plan to drug Ms McGuire. He claimed Young told him on April 2 that he would 'roofie' Ms McGuire and fabricate a crash with her in a car, so he could scare her out of taking their house. Mr O'Keefe admitted he did go with Young to the Scarsdale bushland and then deleted security camera footage from his home. But he told the jury he wiped the recording because he did not want to be connected to the car fire. He maintained he only suspected Ms McGuire was in the vehicle after he learnt she had died later that morning. Mr O'Keefe said he visited Young after learning the news, worried he may have been implicated in a murder. "I went up to him and said 'Hannah better not have been in that car'," he told the jury. He claimed Young told him Ms McGuire was already dead as she had been suffocated. Mr O'Keefe admitted he did not contact police, instead deciding to drink with Young and then go on a camping trip with friends. He shared what had happened and his mates advised him to go to the police, but he instead returned home and watched a movie. Detectives arrested Mr O'Keefe on April 7 and questioned him for almost two hours over the murder of Ms McGuire. The jury was told Mr O'Keefe learnt in November 2024 that he would not be facing any charges. The trial before Justice James Elliott continues. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 An accused murderer claims his ex-girlfriend hit her head on the floor and died after one of their arguments became physical. Lachlan Young's barrister made the allegation as he questioned witness Benjamin O'Keefe over his involvement in Hannah McGuire's death. Mr O'Keefe told the Victorian Supreme Court he saw Young set fire to a Mitsubishi Triton early on April 5, 2024, and later learnt Ms McGuire's body was inside. But barrister Glenn Casement claimed Mr O'Keefe knew Ms McGuire was in the ute because Young told him she was dead. The lawyer said Young called Mr O'Keefe at 2.53am on April 5 to say "something had happened". When Mr O'Keefe allegedly arrived at the Sebastopol home in regional Victoria, Young explained he had forcibly pushed Ms McGuire during an argument. Ms McGuire was thrown to the ground and died after she hit her head on the bathroom floor, Mr Casement claimed. Young has admitted he killed Ms McGuire but denied he murdered her, instead offering to plead guilty to manslaughter. That offer was rejected by prosecutors at the start of his murder trial. Mr Casement claimed Mr O'Keefe saw Ms McGuire on the floor and devised a plan with Young to move her body to Scarsdale. The lawyer alleged the pair drove in convoy to the remote bushland and, when they arrived, Mr O'Keefe was the one to set fire to the Triton using his own blowtorch. Mr Casement claimed Mr O'Keefe then lied about his involvement to avoid being charged as an accessory to murder. Mr O'Keefe was arrested and questioned over Ms McGuire's death, but he was never charged. He denied all of the defence allegations, repeatedly saying he never went to Young's home and did not know Ms McGuire's body was in the ute. Mr O'Keefe also rejected the claim he was the one to start the fire, maintaining he stayed in his own car as Young lit the blaze. He told the jury he had been truthful to police and did not lie about Young's plan to drug Ms McGuire. He claimed Young told him on April 2 that he would 'roofie' Ms McGuire and fabricate a crash with her in a car, so he could scare her out of taking their house. Mr O'Keefe admitted he did go with Young to the Scarsdale bushland and then deleted security camera footage from his home. But he told the jury he wiped the recording because he did not want to be connected to the car fire. He maintained he only suspected Ms McGuire was in the vehicle after he learnt she had died later that morning. Mr O'Keefe said he visited Young after learning the news, worried he may have been implicated in a murder. "I went up to him and said 'Hannah better not have been in that car'," he told the jury. He claimed Young told him Ms McGuire was already dead as she had been suffocated. Mr O'Keefe admitted he did not contact police, instead deciding to drink with Young and then go on a camping trip with friends. He shared what had happened and his mates advised him to go to the police, but he instead returned home and watched a movie. Detectives arrested Mr O'Keefe on April 7 and questioned him for almost two hours over the murder of Ms McGuire. The jury was told Mr O'Keefe learnt in November 2024 that he would not be facing any charges. The trial before Justice James Elliott continues. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 An accused murderer claims his ex-girlfriend hit her head on the floor and died after one of their arguments became physical. Lachlan Young's barrister made the allegation as he questioned witness Benjamin O'Keefe over his involvement in Hannah McGuire's death. Mr O'Keefe told the Victorian Supreme Court he saw Young set fire to a Mitsubishi Triton early on April 5, 2024, and later learnt Ms McGuire's body was inside. But barrister Glenn Casement claimed Mr O'Keefe knew Ms McGuire was in the ute because Young told him she was dead. The lawyer said Young called Mr O'Keefe at 2.53am on April 5 to say "something had happened". When Mr O'Keefe allegedly arrived at the Sebastopol home in regional Victoria, Young explained he had forcibly pushed Ms McGuire during an argument. Ms McGuire was thrown to the ground and died after she hit her head on the bathroom floor, Mr Casement claimed. Young has admitted he killed Ms McGuire but denied he murdered her, instead offering to plead guilty to manslaughter. That offer was rejected by prosecutors at the start of his murder trial. Mr Casement claimed Mr O'Keefe saw Ms McGuire on the floor and devised a plan with Young to move her body to Scarsdale. The lawyer alleged the pair drove in convoy to the remote bushland and, when they arrived, Mr O'Keefe was the one to set fire to the Triton using his own blowtorch. Mr Casement claimed Mr O'Keefe then lied about his involvement to avoid being charged as an accessory to murder. Mr O'Keefe was arrested and questioned over Ms McGuire's death, but he was never charged. He denied all of the defence allegations, repeatedly saying he never went to Young's home and did not know Ms McGuire's body was in the ute. Mr O'Keefe also rejected the claim he was the one to start the fire, maintaining he stayed in his own car as Young lit the blaze. He told the jury he had been truthful to police and did not lie about Young's plan to drug Ms McGuire. He claimed Young told him on April 2 that he would 'roofie' Ms McGuire and fabricate a crash with her in a car, so he could scare her out of taking their house. Mr O'Keefe admitted he did go with Young to the Scarsdale bushland and then deleted security camera footage from his home. But he told the jury he wiped the recording because he did not want to be connected to the car fire. He maintained he only suspected Ms McGuire was in the vehicle after he learnt she had died later that morning. Mr O'Keefe said he visited Young after learning the news, worried he may have been implicated in a murder. "I went up to him and said 'Hannah better not have been in that car'," he told the jury. He claimed Young told him Ms McGuire was already dead as she had been suffocated. Mr O'Keefe admitted he did not contact police, instead deciding to drink with Young and then go on a camping trip with friends. He shared what had happened and his mates advised him to go to the police, but he instead returned home and watched a movie. Detectives arrested Mr O'Keefe on April 7 and questioned him for almost two hours over the murder of Ms McGuire. The jury was told Mr O'Keefe learnt in November 2024 that he would not be facing any charges. The trial before Justice James Elliott continues. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
ABC News
9 hours ago
- ABC News
Emergency services work to free occupant of vehicle hit by train near Albany
West Australian emergency services are working frantically to extricate a passenger of a vehicle that collided with a grain train at a level crossing in Albany. Multiple occupants of the vehicle were injured in the collision, which occurred at about 2pm on Redmond-Hay River Road, near the intersection of Siding Road in the suburb of Redmond. The ABC understands there were five people in the car — a man and a woman in their 30s and three children under the age of 10. The woman is in a critical condition. The man and three children will be taken to Albany Health Campus but are understood to be unscathed or suffering minor injuries. Three Albany Fire and Rescue vehicles and six crews from St John Ambulance are at the scene. Firefighters are working to free the person trapped in the vehicle, which witnesses described as a dark-coloured Mitsubishi Triton. The RAC rescue helicopter has been dispatched from Perth and is en route. Two males on the train are understood to have escaped injury but are being treated for shock. Witnesses said the train sounded its horn before it hit the ute and pushed it 30 to 40 metres before both came to a stop. Officers on the scene told witnesses that the road and train line had been closed and would remain so until major crash detectives assessed the scene.
