The 21-year-old man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend appeared in court for the first time over her alleged murder.
Lachie Young appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court in regional Victoria on Tuesday after being charged with the murder of Hannah McGuire a day earlier.
Sporting a bob haircut, Young collapsed in court as his mother cried in her seat at the front of the courtroom.
The court heard he would remain behind bars until his next court date in September.
Police discovered the remains of Hannah McGuire, 23, in a burnt-out car near State Forest Rd, near Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat in Victoria, shortly before 10am on Friday.
Little information was provided about how Homicide Squad detectives presented their case against the alleged killer.
The court heard multiple crime scenes were still being investigated and police were reviewing CCTV.
Young’s lawyer complained to the court that police had not provided him with information about the allegations.
“They swooped in very quickly,” he said.
The court heard it will take them 16 weeks to compile their brief of evidence against Young.
Young’s lawyer revealed that it was his client’s first time in custody and needed access to antidepressant medication.
WhatsNew2Day Australia revealed on Monday that McGuire had desperately tried to obtain an intervention order against a man in the days before his murder.
It is understood his death was initially ruled a suicide before the coroner’s report indicated he had suffered fatal injuries before his alleged death from fire inside a car.
The remains of that car were found near State Forest Road, near Scarsdale, southwest of Ballarat in Victoria, shortly before 1am on Friday.
Additionally, it can be revealed that Ms. McGuire had been friends with Young’s sister, Bek Young.
Images of Young obtained from social media indicate that he enjoyed a good upbringing and remained close to his parents until the day of his arrest.
His parents’ family home is located a stone’s throw from the Sebastopol home where detectives arrested him on Sunday.
That same afternoon a 22-year-old man was also arrested, but was released without charge.
Lachie Young, 21, of Sebastopol, was arrested by detectives Sunday and formally charged with her murder Monday afternoon.
It is understood police will allege in court that Young sent text messages to friends of McGuire suggesting she had ended her own life.
‘The police came to see me on Friday lunchtime and told me she had done it and was no longer with us. This is my fault,’ the text supposedly said.
Young also posted a tribute to his ex-girlfriend on Facebook at 1:19 a.m. Saturday.
She posted a photo of the couple with the caption, “I will always love you until we meet again, make that heaven a very beautiful girl” with two love heart emojis.
Young and McGuire had been in a relationship and lived together for the past year before recently splitting, WhatsNew2Day Australia understands.
Ms McGuire, who worked at her family’s pub, The National Hotel in Clunes, had lived with Young until a week ago, when she moved out.
In a post on the pub’s Facebook page, the McGuire family said they were “devastated”.
“The pub will be open as normal on Wednesday, we will leave you in the capable hands of Johnny Hind for a few days,” the post said.
‘Thank you all for your love, support and kind words. Our hearts are broken.
‘You weren’t just a star to us. You were our whole damn heaven. I miss you princess!’
If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, call 1800 RESPECT or the crisis helpline on 1800 199 008.
Young also posted a tribute to his ex-girlfriend on Facebook at 1:19 a.m. Saturday (pictured)
One woman described Ms McGuire as a “beautiful soul” who always had a smile on her face.