‘Declining’: Huge claim after murder charge
A Ballarat man charged with murdering his ex-girlfriend is in a “declining” state of mental health, his lawyer has told a court.
Lachie Young, 21, appeared in the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Tuesday after being charged with the murder of Hannah McGuire on April 5.
Police will allege in court that Mr Young killed Ms McGuire before driving to State Forest Rd in Scarsdale, southwest of Ballarat, and setting the car on fire.
It will be further alleged that she died inside her former partner’s Sebastopol home on Ballarat’s southern fringe.
In court on Tuesday, Mr Young’s lawyer told the court the 21-year-old was in a state of declining mental health, and his family members had brought medication to the courthouse.
Mr Young’s lawyer said she had received “nothing” from the police, and all the information she had was from the media.
The defendant appeared in person in the courtroom, standing within an encased dock.
No bail application was made. Mr Young is expected back in court for committal on September 19.
The police prosecutor requested 16 weeks to hand up a brief of evidence, which was granted.
The police E-crime unit and forensics were required to analyse multiple crime scenes, the prosecutor said.
Pathology was expected to take 12 weeks, the prosecutor said.
Emergency services found the teacher’s body after being called to a car fire about 20km south of Ballarat on Friday.
Just after 1am on Saturday, Mr Young posted a photo of he and Ms McGuire that read: “I will forever love you until we meet again make that sky pretty beautiful girl.”
Mr Young had been living with Ms McGuire before they recently broke-up, the Herald Sun reported.
According to the report, Mr Young messaged Ms McGuire’s friends “indicating she had suicided”.
Ms McGuire’s parents are involved with the Clunes Cricket Club; Clunes is about 30km north of Ballarat.
The club has since launched a fundraiser to help cover the costs of Ms McGuire’s funeral and support her family.
“As a community we send our deepest love and condolences to Glenn, Debbie, Jude, Fletcher. Hannah was known by many as a bright young woman and had a heart of gold,” the description reads.
Money raised would go the funeral and the McGuire family, who had to close their business “while they take the time they need to get back up and running”.
“Let’s rally as a community and get behind this wonderful family. You were taken way too soon Hannah, but may you rest in peace.”
Independent federal MP Zoe Daniel posted on social media that Ms McGuire was “the 22nd woman killed this year”.
The body of 42-year-old Ballarat woman Rebecca Young was found at home in February, near to the body of her partner in what police suspect was a murder-suicide.
Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy, 51, was last seen in February leaving her home to go for a run. A 22-year-old man has been charged with Ms Murphy’s murder and the search for her body continues.
