6 days ago
Hannah McGuire: Here is a complete timeline of the murder that devastated a town
The Supreme Court trial of Lachlan Young came to an abrupt end on Friday, after the 23-year-old pleaded guilty to murdering his former partner, Hannah McGuire.
The change of plea came eight days into the murder trial, after several witnesses, including Ms McGuire's parents, were called to give evidence to the jury.
Preparations are being made for Young's eventual sentencing on the single charge of murder.
Here is what has happened so far in the case, which has both devastated and brought together a community.
Hannah McGuire's body is found in a burnt-out car in bushland near Scarsdale - April 5, 2024.
A man walking his dog was the first to call in the burnt-out Mitsubishi Triton after discovering the wreckage in the early morning of April 5, 2024.
CFA crews arrived at the scene in the Ross Creek State Forest to find Ms McGuire's remains in the vehicle.
Ms McGuire was last seen by her parents on the night before, sharing a meal with her netball clubmates at the National Hotel in Clunes, which the family owns.
Lachlan Young is arrested and charged with murder
Homicide Squad detectives charged Ms McGuire's former partner with her murder on April 9, 2024.
The couple had owned a house together in Sebastopol, but had separated in the months prior to Ms McGuire's murder.
The Clunes Cricket Club established a GoFundMe to help support the McGuire family, which raised more than $11,000 in its first four hours.
A workmate of Young's, Benjamin O'Keefe, was also arrested in relation to the murder, but was not charged.
Young appeared for the first time at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court, and a statement on behalf of the McGuire family was delivered outside the courthouse by their solicitor, Brooke Tamanika.
Calls for change grew in the Ballarat community, as Ms McGuire became the third woman in the city to be allegedly murdered by a man in the first half of 2024.
Ms McGuire was laid to rest at a funeral in Ballarat on April 29, 2024, attended by about 600 people.
Lachlan Morganti is charged with stealing money from Hannah's GoFundMe
A man associated with the Clunes Cricket Club, and known to the McGuire family, Lachlan Morganti, is charged with stealing over $60,000 from the GoFundMe established after her death.
Morganti used the money to fuel his online gambling addiction and was reported to police after transferring a portion of the winnings to his friends, who realised where the money had come from.
He later admitted to the McGuire family that he had lost all of the money.
A magistrate called Morganti's crime one of the "most self-indulgent acts of greed" she had seen in her career.
Debbie McGuire called Morganti's actions "vile".
"He had the audacity to attend [Hannah McGuire's] funeral, where he was amongst the very people who contributed to the GoFundMe, whose money he had gambled away," she said.
"I'm heartbroken for those who financially contributed when they didn't know what they could do for us, I have faith the adjudication will be one that is considerate on our family and the community."
Morganti avoided jail and was placed on a two-year community corrections order after pleading guilty to the theft.
Lachlan Young pleads not guilty to murdering Hannah McGuire
At a hearing at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on September 19, 2024, Young pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms McGuire.
He appeared remotely in the court from custody.
The courtroom was filled with supporters of the McGuire family, each wearing shirts with her face on them and the words "she matters".
Young elected to have the trial fast-tracked to the Supreme Court, skipping the usual committal process in the Magistrates' Court.
The trial begins and ends after Lachlan Young changes his plea
The Supreme Court murder trial began on July 8, sitting in Ballarat.
Young's legal team conceded that Young had killed Ms McGuire, but that the death was accidental and without murderous intent.
The trial went for eight days, with the jury hearing from several witnesses.
Young's colleague, Benjamin O'Keefe, is a key prosecution witness who told the court he had driven out to Scarsdale with Young on the morning of Ms McGuire's murder.
He said Young had set Ms McGuire's orange Mitsubishi Triton on fire with a blow torch, but denied ever seeing her body inside the vehicle.
Mr O'Keefe's cross-examination had finished on Wednesday, July 16, and the court was due to hear from more prosecution witnesses.
The trial was adjourned on Thursday, July 17, due to "issues that arose overnight". Supreme Court Justice James Elliott did not elaborate on what the issues were.
On the morning of Friday, July 18, Young changed his plea, and pleaded guilty to murdering Ms McGuire.
Young will return to court on July 25.
Affected by this story? Call Lifeline 13 11 14
The Supreme Court trial of Lachlan Young came to an abrupt end on Friday, after the 23-year-old pleaded guilty to murdering his former partner, Hannah McGuire.
The change of plea came eight days into the murder trial, after several witnesses, including Ms McGuire's parents, were called to give evidence to the jury.
Preparations are being made for Young's eventual sentencing on the single charge of murder.
Here is what has happened so far in the case, which has both devastated and brought together a community.
Hannah McGuire's body is found in a burnt-out car in bushland near Scarsdale - April 5, 2024.
A man walking his dog was the first to call in the burnt-out Mitsubishi Triton after discovering the wreckage in the early morning of April 5, 2024.
CFA crews arrived at the scene in the Ross Creek State Forest to find Ms McGuire's remains in the vehicle.
Ms McGuire was last seen by her parents on the night before, sharing a meal with her netball clubmates at the National Hotel in Clunes, which the family owns.
Lachlan Young is arrested and charged with murder
Homicide Squad detectives charged Ms McGuire's former partner with her murder on April 9, 2024.
The couple had owned a house together in Sebastopol, but had separated in the months prior to Ms McGuire's murder.
The Clunes Cricket Club established a GoFundMe to help support the McGuire family, which raised more than $11,000 in its first four hours.
A workmate of Young's, Benjamin O'Keefe, was also arrested in relation to the murder, but was not charged.
Young appeared for the first time at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court, and a statement on behalf of the McGuire family was delivered outside the courthouse by their solicitor, Brooke Tamanika.
Calls for change grew in the Ballarat community, as Ms McGuire became the third woman in the city to be allegedly murdered by a man in the first half of 2024.
Ms McGuire was laid to rest at a funeral in Ballarat on April 29, 2024, attended by about 600 people.
Lachlan Morganti is charged with stealing money from Hannah's GoFundMe
A man associated with the Clunes Cricket Club, and known to the McGuire family, Lachlan Morganti, is charged with stealing over $60,000 from the GoFundMe established after her death.
Morganti used the money to fuel his online gambling addiction and was reported to police after transferring a portion of the winnings to his friends, who realised where the money had come from.
He later admitted to the McGuire family that he had lost all of the money.
A magistrate called Morganti's crime one of the "most self-indulgent acts of greed" she had seen in her career.
Debbie McGuire called Morganti's actions "vile".
"He had the audacity to attend [Hannah McGuire's] funeral, where he was amongst the very people who contributed to the GoFundMe, whose money he had gambled away," she said.
"I'm heartbroken for those who financially contributed when they didn't know what they could do for us, I have faith the adjudication will be one that is considerate on our family and the community."
Morganti avoided jail and was placed on a two-year community corrections order after pleading guilty to the theft.
Lachlan Young pleads not guilty to murdering Hannah McGuire
At a hearing at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on September 19, 2024, Young pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms McGuire.
He appeared remotely in the court from custody.
The courtroom was filled with supporters of the McGuire family, each wearing shirts with her face on them and the words "she matters".
Young elected to have the trial fast-tracked to the Supreme Court, skipping the usual committal process in the Magistrates' Court.
The trial begins and ends after Lachlan Young changes his plea
The Supreme Court murder trial began on July 8, sitting in Ballarat.
Young's legal team conceded that Young had killed Ms McGuire, but that the death was accidental and without murderous intent.
The trial went for eight days, with the jury hearing from several witnesses.
Young's colleague, Benjamin O'Keefe, is a key prosecution witness who told the court he had driven out to Scarsdale with Young on the morning of Ms McGuire's murder.
He said Young had set Ms McGuire's orange Mitsubishi Triton on fire with a blow torch, but denied ever seeing her body inside the vehicle.
Mr O'Keefe's cross-examination had finished on Wednesday, July 16, and the court was due to hear from more prosecution witnesses.
The trial was adjourned on Thursday, July 17, due to "issues that arose overnight". Supreme Court Justice James Elliott did not elaborate on what the issues were.
On the morning of Friday, July 18, Young changed his plea, and pleaded guilty to murdering Ms McGuire.
Young will return to court on July 25.
Affected by this story? Call Lifeline 13 11 14
The Supreme Court trial of Lachlan Young came to an abrupt end on Friday, after the 23-year-old pleaded guilty to murdering his former partner, Hannah McGuire.
The change of plea came eight days into the murder trial, after several witnesses, including Ms McGuire's parents, were called to give evidence to the jury.
Preparations are being made for Young's eventual sentencing on the single charge of murder.
Here is what has happened so far in the case, which has both devastated and brought together a community.
Hannah McGuire's body is found in a burnt-out car in bushland near Scarsdale - April 5, 2024.
A man walking his dog was the first to call in the burnt-out Mitsubishi Triton after discovering the wreckage in the early morning of April 5, 2024.
CFA crews arrived at the scene in the Ross Creek State Forest to find Ms McGuire's remains in the vehicle.
Ms McGuire was last seen by her parents on the night before, sharing a meal with her netball clubmates at the National Hotel in Clunes, which the family owns.
Lachlan Young is arrested and charged with murder
Homicide Squad detectives charged Ms McGuire's former partner with her murder on April 9, 2024.
The couple had owned a house together in Sebastopol, but had separated in the months prior to Ms McGuire's murder.
The Clunes Cricket Club established a GoFundMe to help support the McGuire family, which raised more than $11,000 in its first four hours.
A workmate of Young's, Benjamin O'Keefe, was also arrested in relation to the murder, but was not charged.
Young appeared for the first time at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court, and a statement on behalf of the McGuire family was delivered outside the courthouse by their solicitor, Brooke Tamanika.
Calls for change grew in the Ballarat community, as Ms McGuire became the third woman in the city to be allegedly murdered by a man in the first half of 2024.
Ms McGuire was laid to rest at a funeral in Ballarat on April 29, 2024, attended by about 600 people.
Lachlan Morganti is charged with stealing money from Hannah's GoFundMe
A man associated with the Clunes Cricket Club, and known to the McGuire family, Lachlan Morganti, is charged with stealing over $60,000 from the GoFundMe established after her death.
Morganti used the money to fuel his online gambling addiction and was reported to police after transferring a portion of the winnings to his friends, who realised where the money had come from.
He later admitted to the McGuire family that he had lost all of the money.
A magistrate called Morganti's crime one of the "most self-indulgent acts of greed" she had seen in her career.
Debbie McGuire called Morganti's actions "vile".
"He had the audacity to attend [Hannah McGuire's] funeral, where he was amongst the very people who contributed to the GoFundMe, whose money he had gambled away," she said.
"I'm heartbroken for those who financially contributed when they didn't know what they could do for us, I have faith the adjudication will be one that is considerate on our family and the community."
Morganti avoided jail and was placed on a two-year community corrections order after pleading guilty to the theft.
Lachlan Young pleads not guilty to murdering Hannah McGuire
At a hearing at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on September 19, 2024, Young pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms McGuire.
He appeared remotely in the court from custody.
The courtroom was filled with supporters of the McGuire family, each wearing shirts with her face on them and the words "she matters".
Young elected to have the trial fast-tracked to the Supreme Court, skipping the usual committal process in the Magistrates' Court.
The trial begins and ends after Lachlan Young changes his plea
The Supreme Court murder trial began on July 8, sitting in Ballarat.
Young's legal team conceded that Young had killed Ms McGuire, but that the death was accidental and without murderous intent.
The trial went for eight days, with the jury hearing from several witnesses.
Young's colleague, Benjamin O'Keefe, is a key prosecution witness who told the court he had driven out to Scarsdale with Young on the morning of Ms McGuire's murder.
He said Young had set Ms McGuire's orange Mitsubishi Triton on fire with a blow torch, but denied ever seeing her body inside the vehicle.
Mr O'Keefe's cross-examination had finished on Wednesday, July 16, and the court was due to hear from more prosecution witnesses.
The trial was adjourned on Thursday, July 17, due to "issues that arose overnight". Supreme Court Justice James Elliott did not elaborate on what the issues were.
On the morning of Friday, July 18, Young changed his plea, and pleaded guilty to murdering Ms McGuire.
Young will return to court on July 25.
Affected by this story? Call Lifeline 13 11 14
The Supreme Court trial of Lachlan Young came to an abrupt end on Friday, after the 23-year-old pleaded guilty to murdering his former partner, Hannah McGuire.
The change of plea came eight days into the murder trial, after several witnesses, including Ms McGuire's parents, were called to give evidence to the jury.
Preparations are being made for Young's eventual sentencing on the single charge of murder.
Here is what has happened so far in the case, which has both devastated and brought together a community.
Hannah McGuire's body is found in a burnt-out car in bushland near Scarsdale - April 5, 2024.
A man walking his dog was the first to call in the burnt-out Mitsubishi Triton after discovering the wreckage in the early morning of April 5, 2024.
CFA crews arrived at the scene in the Ross Creek State Forest to find Ms McGuire's remains in the vehicle.
Ms McGuire was last seen by her parents on the night before, sharing a meal with her netball clubmates at the National Hotel in Clunes, which the family owns.
Lachlan Young is arrested and charged with murder
Homicide Squad detectives charged Ms McGuire's former partner with her murder on April 9, 2024.
The couple had owned a house together in Sebastopol, but had separated in the months prior to Ms McGuire's murder.
The Clunes Cricket Club established a GoFundMe to help support the McGuire family, which raised more than $11,000 in its first four hours.
A workmate of Young's, Benjamin O'Keefe, was also arrested in relation to the murder, but was not charged.
Young appeared for the first time at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court, and a statement on behalf of the McGuire family was delivered outside the courthouse by their solicitor, Brooke Tamanika.
Calls for change grew in the Ballarat community, as Ms McGuire became the third woman in the city to be allegedly murdered by a man in the first half of 2024.
Ms McGuire was laid to rest at a funeral in Ballarat on April 29, 2024, attended by about 600 people.
Lachlan Morganti is charged with stealing money from Hannah's GoFundMe
A man associated with the Clunes Cricket Club, and known to the McGuire family, Lachlan Morganti, is charged with stealing over $60,000 from the GoFundMe established after her death.
Morganti used the money to fuel his online gambling addiction and was reported to police after transferring a portion of the winnings to his friends, who realised where the money had come from.
He later admitted to the McGuire family that he had lost all of the money.
A magistrate called Morganti's crime one of the "most self-indulgent acts of greed" she had seen in her career.
Debbie McGuire called Morganti's actions "vile".
"He had the audacity to attend [Hannah McGuire's] funeral, where he was amongst the very people who contributed to the GoFundMe, whose money he had gambled away," she said.
"I'm heartbroken for those who financially contributed when they didn't know what they could do for us, I have faith the adjudication will be one that is considerate on our family and the community."
Morganti avoided jail and was placed on a two-year community corrections order after pleading guilty to the theft.
Lachlan Young pleads not guilty to murdering Hannah McGuire
At a hearing at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on September 19, 2024, Young pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms McGuire.
He appeared remotely in the court from custody.
The courtroom was filled with supporters of the McGuire family, each wearing shirts with her face on them and the words "she matters".
Young elected to have the trial fast-tracked to the Supreme Court, skipping the usual committal process in the Magistrates' Court.
The trial begins and ends after Lachlan Young changes his plea
The Supreme Court murder trial began on July 8, sitting in Ballarat.
Young's legal team conceded that Young had killed Ms McGuire, but that the death was accidental and without murderous intent.
The trial went for eight days, with the jury hearing from several witnesses.
Young's colleague, Benjamin O'Keefe, is a key prosecution witness who told the court he had driven out to Scarsdale with Young on the morning of Ms McGuire's murder.
He said Young had set Ms McGuire's orange Mitsubishi Triton on fire with a blow torch, but denied ever seeing her body inside the vehicle.
Mr O'Keefe's cross-examination had finished on Wednesday, July 16, and the court was due to hear from more prosecution witnesses.
The trial was adjourned on Thursday, July 17, due to "issues that arose overnight". Supreme Court Justice James Elliott did not elaborate on what the issues were.
On the morning of Friday, July 18, Young changed his plea, and pleaded guilty to murdering Ms McGuire.
Young will return to court on July 25.
Affected by this story? Call Lifeline 13 11 14
