Hannah McGuire bought a house with her ex-boyfriend Lachlan Young just under a year before he allegedly murdered her.
In the photo smiling from ear to ear, the 23-year-old posed next to a large “sold” sign with her then partner outside their house in Sebastopol, near Ballarat in regional Victoria.
The happy snap was taken nearly a year to the day before Young appeared in court Tuesday to face charges for McGuire’s murder.
Hannah McGuire poses outside her King Drive home with her alleged killer, Lachlan Young, just over a year ago.
Hannah McGuire and Lachlan Young together inside their home in happier times
Another image obtained by WhatsNew2Day Australia shows a beaming young man snuggled up to his impeccably dressed partner.
The King Drive property was sold to the then couple on March 17 last year and the couple moved in shortly afterwards.
Ms McGuire’s body was found near State Forest Road, near Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat in Victoria, shortly before 1am on Friday.
His death was initially ruled a suicide after his body was found in a burned-out car.
But the forensic report indicated that he had allegedly suffered fatal injuries before the vehicle was engulfed in flames.
A friend of McGuire, who asked to remain anonymous, told WhatsNew2Day Australia that her friend had worked as a teacher alongside Young’s sister.
“Hannah was the most loving person anyone could meet, no matter what walk of life you came from, she welcomed you with open arms,” he said.
Ms. McGuire had been in the process of finishing her degree while working as a teacher until her heartbreaking death.
A year earlier, the then-happy couple paid $470,000 for their first dream home, which on Tuesday was sealed off with police tape as a crime scene.
Lachlan Young was arrested inside the couple’s dream home on Sunday.
Police tape surrounded what was once the happy home of Hannah McGuire
Young’s own family home, where his parents still reside, is just a stone’s throw from the property.
The couple’s house had three bedrooms, a bathroom and a large double garage in the backyard.
The couple had been popular with many of their neighbors, who shared fond memories of drinking with them at the house.
Ms. McGuire’s funeral is expected to be held in the coming days.
McGuire’s devastated parents, Glenn and Debbie, and his brother sobbed and comforted each other outside a Ballarat court on Tuesday.
Lachlan Young is accused of murdering his ex-partner Hannah McGuire
Hannah McGuire
No reasons have been given as to why or how police allege Young killed his recently separated partner.
On Tuesday, Ballarat Magistrates Court heard multiple crime scenes were still being investigated and police were reviewing CCTV footage.
Young’s lawyer complained to the court that police had not provided him with information about the allegations, limiting his ability to make any kind of bail application to the Supreme Court of Victoria.
‘At this time the defense has not contributed anything from the police. All the information we have has been given to us by the media,’ he stated.
“It appears as if the police acted very quickly and there is obviously enough evidence against Mr Young to charge him with murder.”
Outside court, Ms McGuire’s devastated parents, Glenn and Debbie, and her brother sobbed and comforted each other as Ballarat lawyer Brooke Tamanika spoke on their behalf.
“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,” he said.
“The family has been assisting the police, however I cannot comment on the status of the matter.”
Young will remain behind bars until his next court appearance in September.