Lachlan Young, 23, pleaded guilty to murdering his former girlfriend, Hannah McGuire, 23, in April 2024 after a history of abuse.

Lachlan Young, 23, will face the family of his former girlfriend, Hannah McGuire, 23, after pleading guilty to her murder in Victoria’s Supreme Court. Young, who had a history of abusive behavior and was subject to multiple intervention orders, allegedly killed McGuire on April 5, 2024, at their shared property in Ballarat after their relationship ended. Prosecutors said he planned to drug her and crash the car but instead murdered her, placed her body in her vehicle, set it on fire in Scarsdale, and used her phone to falsely tell her mother she had taken her own life while transferring funds from her account. Initially pleading not guilty and arguing manslaughter, Young changed his plea on the eighth day of trial. A three-day plea hearing is scheduled, during which family members will deliver victim impact statements, followed by sentencing. Support services are available for those affected by domestic violence.