Father of Hannah McGuire’s accused killer Lachlan Young breaks his silence with foul-mouthed spray at reporter
The father of the man accused of killing Hannah McGuire has unleashed a foul-mouthed tirade on a reporter when asked about his son’s murder charges.
Lachlan Young, 21, was charged in court on Tuesday over the death of his ex-girlfriend, whose body was found in a burnt-out car in Scarsdale, 25km south of Ballarat, on Friday morning.
Nine News reporter Gillian Lantouris approached the suspect’s father in the driveway of his home as he retreated to a garage.
Ms. Lantouris asked, “Do you have anything to say about Lachie’s murder charge?”
The father replied: ‘F**k, get out, f**k off!’, from the garage as the electric roller door went down.
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, just before 10am on Friday.
Glenn McGuire tried his best to hide his grief on the courthouse steps
Images of Young on social media indicate that he had a good upbringing and remained close to his parents
Earlier on Tuesday, the heartbroken mother of Ms McGuire, 23, wept openly in the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court as the man accused of her daughter’s murder hid his face.
With a harder haircut, Young collapsed in the courtroom as the grief-stricken mother burst into tears in her seat at the front of the courtroom.
The court heard Young would be held behind bars until his next court hearing in September.
Outside court, Ms McGuire’s devastated parents, Glenn and Debbie, and her brother cried 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,” she said.
“The family has assisted the police, but I cannot comment on the status of the case.”
Mr McGuire could not contain his grief as Ms Tamanika spoke to reporters, turning her back and trying to hide his own pain as he sobbed uncontrollably.
He was comforted by his family before police escorted them all away from the media pack and to their car across the street.
Friends of Ms McGuire also left the court in tears.
Little information was provided inside the court about Homicide Squad detectives’ case against the alleged killer.
The court heard that several crime scenes are still being investigated, with police searching CCTV footage.
Young’s lawyer complained to the court that police had not provided her with information about the charges, preventing her from making a bail application in the Supreme Court of Victoria.
‘At this stage the defense has not given anything from the police. “All the information we have has been provided by the media,” she said.
Mrs. McGuire had been friends with Young’s sister Bek Young
Glenn McGuire is comforted by his wife Debbie outside the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday
‘It appears as if the police acted very quickly and there is clearly enough evidence against Mr Young to charge him with murder.’
The court heard it will take the prosecution 16 weeks to compile their evidence against Young.
Young’s attorney revealed it was her client’s first time in custody and he needed access to antidepressants.
It is understood Ms McGuire’s death was initially ruled a suicide after her body was found in a burnt-out car.
But a coroner’s report indicated she reportedly suffered fatal injuries before the vehicle burst into flames.
The remains of the victims were found just before 1am on Friday near State Forest Road, close to Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat in Victoria.
It can further be revealed that Mrs. McGuire had been friends with Young’s sister Bek Young.
Images of Young on social media indicate that he had a good upbringing and remained close to his parents.
His parents’ childhood home is a stone’s throw from the home in Sevastopol where detectives arrested him on Sunday.
Lachie Young, 21, of Sebastopol, was arrested by detectives on Sunday and formally charged with murder on Monday afternoon
A 22-year-old was also arrested that afternoon but was released without charge.
Young and Ms McGuire were in a relationship and lived together for the past year before recently splitting up, Daily Mail Australia understands.
Mrs McGuire, who worked in her family’s pub – The National Hotel in Clunes – lived with Young until a week ago when she moved.
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 be leaving you in the capable hands of Johnny Hind for a few days,” the message read.
“Thank you everyone for your love, support and kind words. Our hearts are broken.
‘You weren’t just a star for us. You were our whole damn heaven. I miss you princess!’
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call 1800 RESPECT or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.