Hannah McGuire bought a house with her ex-boyfriend Lachlan Young just a year before he allegedly murdered her.
Smiling from ear to ear, the 23-year-old posed next to a large ‘sold’ sign next to her then partner outside the home in Sebastopol, near Ballarat in regional Victoria.
The snapshot of happiness was taken almost a year ago, the day before Young appeared in court on Tuesday to be charged with Ms 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 in their home in happier times
Another image obtained by Daily Mail Australia shows a beaming Young snuggled close to his impeccably dressed partner.
The property in King Drive was sold to the then-couple on March 17 last year, with the couple moving in shortly afterwards.
Ms McGuire’s body was found just before 1am on Friday near State Forest Road, close to Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat in Victoria.
Her death was initially ruled a suicide after her body was found in a burned-out car.
But a coroner’s report indicated she reportedly suffered fatal injuries before the vehicle burst into flames.
A friend of Ms McGuire, who wished to remain anonymous, told Daily Mail Australia her friend had worked as a teacher alongside Young’s sister.
“Hannah was the most caring person anyone could come across, no matter what background you came from, she welcomed you with open arms,” she said.
Mrs. McGuire was completing her studies 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 closed Tuesday with police tape as a crime scene.
Lachlan Young was arrested at the couple’s dream home on Sunday
Police tape surrounded what was once Hannah McGuire’s happy home
Young’s own family home, where his parents still live, is just a stone’s throw from the property.
The couple’s home had three bedrooms, one bathroom and a large double garage in the backyard.
The couple were popular with many of their neighbors, who shared fond memories of drinking at home with them.
Ms McGuire’s funeral is expected to take place in the coming days.
Ms McGuire’s devastated parents Glenn and Debbie and her brother cried 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 estranged partner.
On Tuesday, the Ballarat Magistrates Court heard that multiple crime scenes are still being investigated, with police sifting through 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.
‘It appears as if the police acted very quickly and there is clearly enough evidence against Mr Young to charge him with murder.’
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.”
Young will remain behind bars until his next court appearance in September.