The family of Hannah McGuire have fronted the media on the steps of a Ballarat court to reveal their heartbreak over her alleged murder.
On Tuesday, Lachie Young appeared in the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court in regional Victoria after being charged with her murder.
Sporting a mullet haircut, Young slumped in court as the heartbroken mother of his alleged victim wept in her seat at the front of the courtroom.
Police discovered the remains of Hannah McGuire, 23, in a burnt out car near State Forest Rd, close to Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat in Victoria, just before 10am on Friday
Lachie Young appeared in the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court in regional Victoria on Tuesday after being charged on Monday with Hannah McGuire’s murder
The court heard Young would be kept behind bars until his next court date in September.
Outside court, Ms McGuire’s devastated parents Glenn and Debbie and her brother, stood back in grief as Ballarat lawyer Brooke Tamanika issued a statement on their behalf to the waiting media pack.
‘As you can imagine this is a very devastating time for the family, for Hannah’s loved ones and for our community as a whole,’ she said.
‘The family have been assisting the police however I cannot comment on the status of the matter.’
Mr McGuire could not contain his grief as Ms Tamanika spoke to reporters, turning his back and attempting to cover his pain.
He was comforted by his family before police escorted them all away from the media pack to their car across the street.
Friends of Ms McGuire were also seen leaving the court in tears.
Inside court, little information was provided on Homicide Squad detectives’ case against the alleged killer.
The court heard multiple crime scenes were still being investigated with police combing through CCTV footage.
Young’s lawyer complained to the court that police had provided her with no information about the allegations which was limiting her ability to launch any kind of bail application in the Supreme Court of Victoria.
‘At this stage the defence have been giving nothing by police. All of the information we have has been provided by the media,’ she said.
‘It would appear as though the police have swooped very quickly and obviously there is enough evidence against Mr Young to charge him with murder.’
Sporting a mullet haircut, Young slumped in court as a woman believed to be the mother of his alleged victim wept in her seat at the front of the courtroom
Images of Young on social media indicate he enjoyed a good upbringing and remained close to his parents up until the day of his arrest
The court heard it will take the prosecution 16 weeks to compile their brief of evidence against Young.
Young’s lawyer revealed it was her client’s first time in custody and he needed access to anti-depressant medication.
It is understood Ms McGuire’s death had initially been dismissed as a suicide after her body was found in a burnt out car.
But a coroner’s report indicated she had allegedly sustained deadly injuries before the vehicle was engulfed in flames.
The remains of the were found near State Forest Road, close to Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat in Victoria, just before 1am on Friday.
It can further be revealed Ms McGuire had been friends with Young’s sister Bek Young.
Images of Young on social media indicate he enjoyed a good upbringing and remained close to his parents up until the day of his arrest.
His parents’ family home is situated a stone’s throw from the Sebastopol home where detectives arrested him on Sunday.
A 22-year-old was also arrested that afternoon but was released without charge.
Lachie Young, 21, from Sebastopol, was arrested by detectives on Sunday and formally charged with her murder on Monday afternoon
It’s understood that police will allege in court that Young texted friends of Ms McGuire suggesting she had ended her own life.
‘The police came and seen me Friday lunchtime and told me she had done it and wasn’t with us anymore. This is my fault,’ the text allegedly read.
Young also posted a tribute to his ex-girlfriend on Facebook at 1.19am on Saturday.
He posted a photo of the couple with the caption: ‘I will forever love you until we meet again make that sky pretty beautiful girl’ with two love heart emojis.
Young and Ms McGuire had been in a relationship and were living together for the past year before they recently split, Daily Mail understands.
Ms McGuire, who worked at her family’s pub – The National Hotel in Clunes – had lived with Young up until a week ago when she moved.
In a post on the pub’s Facebook page, the McGuire family said they were ‘broken’.
‘The pub will be open as normal on Wednesday, we’ll leave you in the capable hands of Johnny Hind for a few days,’ the post read.
‘Thank you everyone for your love, support and kind words. Our hearts are broken.
‘You weren’t just a star to us. You were our whole damn sky. Miss you Princess!’
If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.
Young also posted a tribute to his ex-girlfriend on Facebook at 1.19am on Saturday (pictured)
One woman described Ms McGuire as a ‘beautiful soul’ who always had a smile on her face