The time has come for a convicted murderer to face the consequences of his brutal actions, having killed his ex-girlfriend and subsequently incinerated her remains in a secluded forested area.

Lachlan Young, aged 23, is scheduled to attend the Victorian Supreme Court in Ballarat today, where Justice James Elliott will deliver his sentencing decision. This significant moment follows a trial that saw Young initially assert his innocence regarding the murder of Hannah McGuire, which occurred in April of last year. He portrayed the tragedy as a spur-of-the-moment act as he sought to defend his case in court.

However, after presenting eight days of testimony before a jury, Young ultimately confessed to the heinous act of strangling McGuire in the early hours of April 5, within the confines of the bathroom in their Sebastopol residence. The chilling admission marked a turning point in the proceedings.

In a disturbing attempt to cover up the crime, Young proceeded to place McGuire’s lifeless body into the footwell of her Mitsubishi Triton. He then drove the vehicle to an isolated area in Scarsdale, where he set it ablaze, hoping to erase any trace of the horrific event.

He then shoved her body into the footwell of her Mitsubishi Triton, drove it to remote bushland in Scarsdale and set the vehicle alight.

As he left the scene, Young used McGuire’s phone to send messages to her mother Debbie, claiming she was going to take her life.

He then transferred $2000 from McGuire’s bank account to her mother and $5000 to himself.

At Young’s pre-sentence hearing last month, crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill urged Justice Elliott to impose a lengthy prison sentence.

Young had been abusive and controlling towards McGuire for months, and he was motivated to kill her because of male entitlement, jealousy and rage, Churchill said.

“Her final moments must have been filled with terror,” the prosecutor told the court.

Young’s barrister Glenn Casement argued the judge should be lenient in sentencing, noting his client’s young age, troubled upbringing, substance abuse issues and poor mental health.

But Casement conceded the only evidence of remorse was Young’s guilty plea and a note from his sister in her letter of reference.

Dozens of McGuire’s friends and family sat through the two-day hearing in October, where victim impact statements were also read aloud.

Hannah’s mother Debbie McGuire vowed to never forgive Young, telling the 23-year-old she hoped he experienced intense pain every day for the rest of his life.

She, her husband Glenn and other loved ones are once again expected to pack the Ballarat courtroom today.

In a post on their business’ Facebook page, the McGuires said they would conduct themselves with integrity regardless of the sentence imposed.

“We will forever be grateful for your love and kindness throughout what has been an unimaginably difficult time for our family,” the social media post read.

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