<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Warning: This story contains content that some readers may find disturbing.</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A killer was motivated by male entitlement, jealousy and rage when he strangled his ex-girlfriend and then burnt her remains in remote bushland, a prosecutor says.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hannah McGuire had the right to leave Lachlan Young after months of abusive and controlling behaviour, crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill told the Victorian Supreme Court today.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Instead of accepting the relationship was over, Young murdered the 23-year-old woman because he could not stand to see her living a life without him.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/brighton-east-home-invasion/e9a569ef-4581-445b-adf8-416eb76e3574"><strong><span>'Get out': Armed intruders flee empty-handed after 76-year-old confronts them</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He attacked and killed Ms McGuire in her own home," Ms Churchill said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Her final moments must have been filled with terror."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/hannah-mcguire-murder-trial-lachlan-young/2b6e2403-05fd-4d2c-b069-48df9b2123eb" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Young, 23, initially denied he murdered Ms McGuire, arguing her April 2024 death was a spontaneous incident.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But after eight days of evidence at trial, he admitted he strangled her in the bathroom of their Sebastopol home about 2.30am on April 5.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He then shoved her body into the footwell of her Mitsubishi Triton, drove it to remote bushland in Scarsdale and set the vehicle alight.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As he left the scene, Young used Ms McGuire's phone to send messages to her mother Debbie, claiming she was going to take her life.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He then transferred $2000 from Ms McGuire's bank account to her mother and $5000 to himself.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Young's barrister Glenn Casement conceded the actions after the murder were callous, but argued they were amateurish and a sign of his immaturity.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ms Churchill rejected that submission today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It cannot simply be explained by his youth or lack of education," she told the court.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They are the actions of someone who is cold, calculated and remorseless."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She pointed to the grief of Ms McGuire's family, friends and colleagues, noting Young had also robbed them of the chance to say a proper goodbye.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He disregarded her dignity while also eradicating any evidence," Ms Churchill said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He engaged in a series of acts to avoid responsibility and attempted to lay the blame of Hannah McGuire's death at her own feet."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The prosecutor outlined the concerning rates of family violence in Victoria, stating such crimes warranted significant condemnation and punishment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She outlined the abuse Ms McGuire experienced in the lead up to her death and the fact there was an active intervention order in place at the time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ms Churchill called on Justice James Elliott to impose a lengthy prison sentence, arguing Young's moral culpability was high.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He was motivated by male entitlement, jealousy and rage," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mr Casement told the court Young's youth needed to be considered in sentencing, as well as his troubled upbringing, substance abuse issues and poor mental health.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He conceded the only evidence of remorse was his client's guilty plea and a note from Young's sister in her letter of reference.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ms McGuire's parents Debbie and Glenn wiped away tears as Justice Elliott held a minute's silence for their daughter during the plea hearing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Young, who was seated in the back of the Ballarat courtroom, kept his head down during the moment of reflection.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Justice Elliott did not set a day down for the sentencing hearing, instead indicating he would need some time to consider all of the material.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Young was remanded in custody.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Lifeline 13 11 14</span></strong></div></div>