The Victorian Supreme Court has begun hearing victim impact statements from the family and friends of Ballarat woman Hannah McGuire. Lachlan Young is set to be sentenced after pleading guilty to her murder in July.
00:00Today's hearing comes after Lachlan Young sensationally changed his plea from not guilty to guilty just eight days into a five-week murder trial in July this year.
00:10Today the court heard from the prosecution details of the events leading up to the murder and how Mr Young covered it up.
00:17The prosecution alleges she lost consciousness after Young strangled her and died in the bathroom in the house they once shared.
00:24Young murdered Ms Maguire at the home before taking her body in the car and burning it in nearby bushland.
00:29Today the court heard multiple victim impact statements detailing friends and the family's love for Ms Maguire and described her as a ray of sunshine and the light of their lives.
00:39Her father Glenn Maguire said in his impact statement that he was meant to protect her and was supposed to be there to guide and support her and watch her grow.
00:47He said that he'd had to pick out a coffin instead of a graduation or a wedding dress.
00:52Her mother Debbie Maguire told of the moment the police told her they'd found her daughter's body,
00:57saying that she screamed so loud that the sound echoed across the town and still haunts the community today.
01:03The court also heard from Ms Maguire's best friend Jamie McDonald who said she was a friend to both Ms Maguire and Mr Young and had asked how someone who was meant to love her could do this.
01:13The hearing is set to continue for another three days and this afternoon we'll likely hear from more of Ms Maguire's friends and family.
01:19The court and the court and joins the family.
Be the first to comment