A man confessed in court this week to killing his ex-girlfriend and burning her body in her car, bringing his ongoing murder trial to a halt.
According to reports from the Australian Broadcasting Company, the Australian Associated Press, and News.com.au, Lachlan Young, 23, pleaded guilty in Ballarat, Australia, on Friday, July 18, to murdering Hannah McGuire, 23, last year. The agreement comes eight days after his murder trial began in the Victorian Supreme Court. He had previously pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors said Young admitted to killing McGuire on April 5, 2024 and setting her body on fire in her car, but had previously claimed the woman’s death was a “unplanned and spontaneous event,” according to the AAP. McGuire’s body was reportedly dumped in a bush.
Young’s friend, Benjamin O’Keefe, testified during the trial that Young planned to crash McGuire’s car with the woman still inside “because she was leaving him and she was going to take the house and other things,” according to ABC.
According to the AAP, O’Keefe told the court that he saw Young set fire to the woman’s car but had no idea she was inside.
Debbie and Glenn McGuire, McGuire’s parents, alleged in court that Young mistreated their daughter, according to ABC.
The parents, who reportedly own a local pub called National Hotel Clunes, did not speak with the media but did respond to the plea in a Facebook post.
“No other result would have been fitting,” the post reads. “All for you, Hannah, my sweet girl.” Something tells me it will be a big night at the Nash.
According to news reports, Young is expected to be sentenced at a later date.
