A man who strangled his former girlfriend and set her body alight in a desperate attempt to cover his tracks has been sentenced to 28 years in prison. Lachlan Young, 23, murdered Hannah McGuire in a brutal attack that has left a community in mourning and raised serious questions about the justice system's handling of domestic violence cases.
A History of Abuse and Warnings
Years before he took Hannah's life, concerns about Young's violent behaviour were evident. Disturbingly, his own father, Tony Young, recognised the danger his son posed. Just three weeks before the murder, Tony sent his son a stark text message warning him to change his ways. 'Start acting like you are responsible and care about Hannah instead of treating her like s*** every weekend,' the father wrote, even threatening to 'sort you out' if his son wanted to confront him.
Instead of heeding this advice, Young assaulted Hannah the very next day. This pattern of abuse was longstanding. Hannah, a 23-year-old teacher's aide, had previously told police she was 'terrified' of Young. Despite obtaining an intervention order against him, the protection it offered was tragically limited. The existing order had only just expired when Young killed her, and a new one had been recently applied for.
The Final Betrayal and a Life Cut Short
Hannah's parents, Debbie and Glenn McGuire, had long been desperate for their daughter to end the volatile relationship. Hannah's generous nature, however, led her to keep trying to make it work. The couple had even bought a house together in Sebastopol, just outside Ballarat. Eventually, Hannah reached her breaking point and tried to leave.
Agreeing to see Young one last time, she gave him the opportunity he needed. On the night of April 5, after netball training and dinner with her parents, Hannah went to meet Young. What followed was a cold-blooded murder. Young strangled Hannah, placed her body in the boot of her car, drove to a remote bushland area, and set the vehicle alight to destroy the evidence.
In a final act of cowardice, Young then attempted to make it look like a suicide, sending text messages to Hannah's mother while pretending to be Hannah. His charade quickly unravelled, leading to his arrest.
A Justice System Under Scrutiny
In court, Young's lack of remorse was palpable. He maintained his innocence until the eighth day of his trial before finally pleading guilty. He then attempted to shift blame for his actions onto his upbringing and his father. Justice James Elliott ultimately sentenced Young to 28 years in prison, with a non-parole period of 22 years and four months.
With time already served, Young will be eligible for parole in August 2046. For Hannah's family and friends, the sentence brings a measure of justice, but no true closure. The case has cast a harsh light on the system's failures, revealing that Young had been on bail for other alleged offences and had breached previous intervention orders with little consequence, a tragic reminder of the gaps that can exist in protecting victims of domestic violence.
