Workmate shares Lachlan Young's alleged plan to 'roofie' former partner Hannah McGuire before she was killed
Benjamin O'Keefe told the Victorian Supreme Court that Lachlan Young shared his plan to harm his former partner Hannah McGuire on April 2, 2024.
'He started talking about wanting to roofie Hannah and take her out bush and scare her so she wouldn't take the house and other things from him,' O'Keefe said in evidence on Tuesday.
O'Keefe claimed Young asked him to act as a getaway driver, which he ultimately declined after speaking to his girlfriend.
Two days later, O'Keefe said he received another message from Young asking him to meet at a nearby corner at midnight.
O'Keefe told the jury he went to the designated spot without his phone but Young wasn't there so he returned home.
He said he then heard a car horn and went to his front lawn to see Young waiting in an orange Mitsubishi Triton.
O'Keefe told the jury he did not look inside the ute and instead just obeyed Young's instructions to follow behind in his vehicle.
He claimed they went out to remote bushland where Young drove the Triton into some trees and then ordered O'Keefe to turn his car around.
Young then used a yellow blow torch to set fire to the front of the Triton, O'Keefe told the jury.
After holding the blowtorch there for a few minutes, it's alleged Young then returned to O'Keefe's car but told him to wait a minute.
'(We were) just watching the car to make sure it caught on fire,' O'Keefe told the jury.
'That's what Lachie wanted.'
O'Keefe claimed Young gave him $45 after the incident although he never explained why.
Young, 23, is accused of murdering McGuire in the early hours of April 5, before driving her body in the Triton to remote bushland and setting the ute alight.
He has admitted to killing McGuire but denies the charge of murder, claiming her death was a spontaneous and unplanned incident.
In his opening address, defence barrister Glenn Casement told the jury they should be critical of O'Keefe's evidence, saying he was not a credible witness.
Casement is expected to cross-examine O'Keefe on Wednesday after senior crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill finishes her questioning.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Hannah McGuire: Here is a complete timeline of the murder that devastated a town
The Supreme Court trial of Lachlan Young came to an abrupt end on Friday, after the 23-year-old pleaded guilty to murdering his former partner, Hannah McGuire. The change of plea came eight days into the murder trial, after several witnesses, including Ms McGuire's parents, were called to give evidence to the jury. Preparations are being made for Young's eventual sentencing on the single charge of murder. Here is what has happened so far in the case, which has both devastated and brought together a community. Hannah McGuire's body is found in a burnt-out car in bushland near Scarsdale - April 5, 2024. A man walking his dog was the first to call in the burnt-out Mitsubishi Triton after discovering the wreckage in the early morning of April 5, 2024. CFA crews arrived at the scene in the Ross Creek State Forest to find Ms McGuire's remains in the vehicle. Ms McGuire was last seen by her parents on the night before, sharing a meal with her netball clubmates at the National Hotel in Clunes, which the family owns. Lachlan Young is arrested and charged with murder Homicide Squad detectives charged Ms McGuire's former partner with her murder on April 9, 2024. The couple had owned a house together in Sebastopol, but had separated in the months prior to Ms McGuire's murder. The Clunes Cricket Club established a GoFundMe to help support the McGuire family, which raised more than $11,000 in its first four hours. A workmate of Young's, Benjamin O'Keefe, was also arrested in relation to the murder, but was not charged. Young appeared for the first time at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court, and a statement on behalf of the McGuire family was delivered outside the courthouse by their solicitor, Brooke Tamanika. Calls for change grew in the Ballarat community, as Ms McGuire became the third woman in the city to be allegedly murdered by a man in the first half of 2024. Ms McGuire was laid to rest at a funeral in Ballarat on April 29, 2024, attended by about 600 people. Lachlan Morganti is charged with stealing money from Hannah's GoFundMe A man associated with the Clunes Cricket Club, and known to the McGuire family, Lachlan Morganti, is charged with stealing over $60,000 from the GoFundMe established after her death. Morganti used the money to fuel his online gambling addiction and was reported to police after transferring a portion of the winnings to his friends, who realised where the money had come from. He later admitted to the McGuire family that he had lost all of the money. A magistrate called Morganti's crime one of the "most self-indulgent acts of greed" she had seen in her career. Debbie McGuire called Morganti's actions "vile". "He had the audacity to attend [Hannah McGuire's] funeral, where he was amongst the very people who contributed to the GoFundMe, whose money he had gambled away," she said. "I'm heartbroken for those who financially contributed when they didn't know what they could do for us, I have faith the adjudication will be one that is considerate on our family and the community." Morganti avoided jail and was placed on a two-year community corrections order after pleading guilty to the theft. Lachlan Young pleads not guilty to murdering Hannah McGuire At a hearing at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on September 19, 2024, Young pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms McGuire. He appeared remotely in the court from custody. The courtroom was filled with supporters of the McGuire family, each wearing shirts with her face on them and the words "she matters". Young elected to have the trial fast-tracked to the Supreme Court, skipping the usual committal process in the Magistrates' Court. The trial begins and ends after Lachlan Young changes his plea The Supreme Court murder trial began on July 8, sitting in Ballarat. Young's legal team conceded that Young had killed Ms McGuire, but that the death was accidental and without murderous intent. The trial went for eight days, with the jury hearing from several witnesses. Young's colleague, Benjamin O'Keefe, is a key prosecution witness who told the court he had driven out to Scarsdale with Young on the morning of Ms McGuire's murder. He said Young had set Ms McGuire's orange Mitsubishi Triton on fire with a blow torch, but denied ever seeing her body inside the vehicle. Mr O'Keefe's cross-examination had finished on Wednesday, July 16, and the court was due to hear from more prosecution witnesses. The trial was adjourned on Thursday, July 17, due to "issues that arose overnight". Supreme Court Justice James Elliott did not elaborate on what the issues were. On the morning of Friday, July 18, Young changed his plea, and pleaded guilty to murdering Ms McGuire. Young will return to court on July 25. Affected by this story? Call Lifeline 13 11 14 The Supreme Court trial of Lachlan Young came to an abrupt end on Friday, after the 23-year-old pleaded guilty to murdering his former partner, Hannah McGuire. The change of plea came eight days into the murder trial, after several witnesses, including Ms McGuire's parents, were called to give evidence to the jury. Preparations are being made for Young's eventual sentencing on the single charge of murder. Here is what has happened so far in the case, which has both devastated and brought together a community. Hannah McGuire's body is found in a burnt-out car in bushland near Scarsdale - April 5, 2024. A man walking his dog was the first to call in the burnt-out Mitsubishi Triton after discovering the wreckage in the early morning of April 5, 2024. CFA crews arrived at the scene in the Ross Creek State Forest to find Ms McGuire's remains in the vehicle. Ms McGuire was last seen by her parents on the night before, sharing a meal with her netball clubmates at the National Hotel in Clunes, which the family owns. Lachlan Young is arrested and charged with murder Homicide Squad detectives charged Ms McGuire's former partner with her murder on April 9, 2024. The couple had owned a house together in Sebastopol, but had separated in the months prior to Ms McGuire's murder. The Clunes Cricket Club established a GoFundMe to help support the McGuire family, which raised more than $11,000 in its first four hours. A workmate of Young's, Benjamin O'Keefe, was also arrested in relation to the murder, but was not charged. Young appeared for the first time at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court, and a statement on behalf of the McGuire family was delivered outside the courthouse by their solicitor, Brooke Tamanika. Calls for change grew in the Ballarat community, as Ms McGuire became the third woman in the city to be allegedly murdered by a man in the first half of 2024. Ms McGuire was laid to rest at a funeral in Ballarat on April 29, 2024, attended by about 600 people. Lachlan Morganti is charged with stealing money from Hannah's GoFundMe A man associated with the Clunes Cricket Club, and known to the McGuire family, Lachlan Morganti, is charged with stealing over $60,000 from the GoFundMe established after her death. Morganti used the money to fuel his online gambling addiction and was reported to police after transferring a portion of the winnings to his friends, who realised where the money had come from. He later admitted to the McGuire family that he had lost all of the money. A magistrate called Morganti's crime one of the "most self-indulgent acts of greed" she had seen in her career. Debbie McGuire called Morganti's actions "vile". "He had the audacity to attend [Hannah McGuire's] funeral, where he was amongst the very people who contributed to the GoFundMe, whose money he had gambled away," she said. "I'm heartbroken for those who financially contributed when they didn't know what they could do for us, I have faith the adjudication will be one that is considerate on our family and the community." Morganti avoided jail and was placed on a two-year community corrections order after pleading guilty to the theft. Lachlan Young pleads not guilty to murdering Hannah McGuire At a hearing at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on September 19, 2024, Young pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms McGuire. He appeared remotely in the court from custody. The courtroom was filled with supporters of the McGuire family, each wearing shirts with her face on them and the words "she matters". Young elected to have the trial fast-tracked to the Supreme Court, skipping the usual committal process in the Magistrates' Court. The trial begins and ends after Lachlan Young changes his plea The Supreme Court murder trial began on July 8, sitting in Ballarat. Young's legal team conceded that Young had killed Ms McGuire, but that the death was accidental and without murderous intent. The trial went for eight days, with the jury hearing from several witnesses. Young's colleague, Benjamin O'Keefe, is a key prosecution witness who told the court he had driven out to Scarsdale with Young on the morning of Ms McGuire's murder. He said Young had set Ms McGuire's orange Mitsubishi Triton on fire with a blow torch, but denied ever seeing her body inside the vehicle. Mr O'Keefe's cross-examination had finished on Wednesday, July 16, and the court was due to hear from more prosecution witnesses. The trial was adjourned on Thursday, July 17, due to "issues that arose overnight". Supreme Court Justice James Elliott did not elaborate on what the issues were. On the morning of Friday, July 18, Young changed his plea, and pleaded guilty to murdering Ms McGuire. Young will return to court on July 25. Affected by this story? Call Lifeline 13 11 14 The Supreme Court trial of Lachlan Young came to an abrupt end on Friday, after the 23-year-old pleaded guilty to murdering his former partner, Hannah McGuire. The change of plea came eight days into the murder trial, after several witnesses, including Ms McGuire's parents, were called to give evidence to the jury. Preparations are being made for Young's eventual sentencing on the single charge of murder. Here is what has happened so far in the case, which has both devastated and brought together a community. Hannah McGuire's body is found in a burnt-out car in bushland near Scarsdale - April 5, 2024. A man walking his dog was the first to call in the burnt-out Mitsubishi Triton after discovering the wreckage in the early morning of April 5, 2024. CFA crews arrived at the scene in the Ross Creek State Forest to find Ms McGuire's remains in the vehicle. Ms McGuire was last seen by her parents on the night before, sharing a meal with her netball clubmates at the National Hotel in Clunes, which the family owns. Lachlan Young is arrested and charged with murder Homicide Squad detectives charged Ms McGuire's former partner with her murder on April 9, 2024. The couple had owned a house together in Sebastopol, but had separated in the months prior to Ms McGuire's murder. The Clunes Cricket Club established a GoFundMe to help support the McGuire family, which raised more than $11,000 in its first four hours. A workmate of Young's, Benjamin O'Keefe, was also arrested in relation to the murder, but was not charged. Young appeared for the first time at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court, and a statement on behalf of the McGuire family was delivered outside the courthouse by their solicitor, Brooke Tamanika. Calls for change grew in the Ballarat community, as Ms McGuire became the third woman in the city to be allegedly murdered by a man in the first half of 2024. Ms McGuire was laid to rest at a funeral in Ballarat on April 29, 2024, attended by about 600 people. Lachlan Morganti is charged with stealing money from Hannah's GoFundMe A man associated with the Clunes Cricket Club, and known to the McGuire family, Lachlan Morganti, is charged with stealing over $60,000 from the GoFundMe established after her death. Morganti used the money to fuel his online gambling addiction and was reported to police after transferring a portion of the winnings to his friends, who realised where the money had come from. He later admitted to the McGuire family that he had lost all of the money. A magistrate called Morganti's crime one of the "most self-indulgent acts of greed" she had seen in her career. Debbie McGuire called Morganti's actions "vile". "He had the audacity to attend [Hannah McGuire's] funeral, where he was amongst the very people who contributed to the GoFundMe, whose money he had gambled away," she said. "I'm heartbroken for those who financially contributed when they didn't know what they could do for us, I have faith the adjudication will be one that is considerate on our family and the community." Morganti avoided jail and was placed on a two-year community corrections order after pleading guilty to the theft. Lachlan Young pleads not guilty to murdering Hannah McGuire At a hearing at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on September 19, 2024, Young pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms McGuire. He appeared remotely in the court from custody. The courtroom was filled with supporters of the McGuire family, each wearing shirts with her face on them and the words "she matters". Young elected to have the trial fast-tracked to the Supreme Court, skipping the usual committal process in the Magistrates' Court. The trial begins and ends after Lachlan Young changes his plea The Supreme Court murder trial began on July 8, sitting in Ballarat. Young's legal team conceded that Young had killed Ms McGuire, but that the death was accidental and without murderous intent. The trial went for eight days, with the jury hearing from several witnesses. Young's colleague, Benjamin O'Keefe, is a key prosecution witness who told the court he had driven out to Scarsdale with Young on the morning of Ms McGuire's murder. He said Young had set Ms McGuire's orange Mitsubishi Triton on fire with a blow torch, but denied ever seeing her body inside the vehicle. Mr O'Keefe's cross-examination had finished on Wednesday, July 16, and the court was due to hear from more prosecution witnesses. The trial was adjourned on Thursday, July 17, due to "issues that arose overnight". Supreme Court Justice James Elliott did not elaborate on what the issues were. On the morning of Friday, July 18, Young changed his plea, and pleaded guilty to murdering Ms McGuire. Young will return to court on July 25. Affected by this story? Call Lifeline 13 11 14 The Supreme Court trial of Lachlan Young came to an abrupt end on Friday, after the 23-year-old pleaded guilty to murdering his former partner, Hannah McGuire. The change of plea came eight days into the murder trial, after several witnesses, including Ms McGuire's parents, were called to give evidence to the jury. Preparations are being made for Young's eventual sentencing on the single charge of murder. Here is what has happened so far in the case, which has both devastated and brought together a community. Hannah McGuire's body is found in a burnt-out car in bushland near Scarsdale - April 5, 2024. A man walking his dog was the first to call in the burnt-out Mitsubishi Triton after discovering the wreckage in the early morning of April 5, 2024. CFA crews arrived at the scene in the Ross Creek State Forest to find Ms McGuire's remains in the vehicle. Ms McGuire was last seen by her parents on the night before, sharing a meal with her netball clubmates at the National Hotel in Clunes, which the family owns. Lachlan Young is arrested and charged with murder Homicide Squad detectives charged Ms McGuire's former partner with her murder on April 9, 2024. The couple had owned a house together in Sebastopol, but had separated in the months prior to Ms McGuire's murder. The Clunes Cricket Club established a GoFundMe to help support the McGuire family, which raised more than $11,000 in its first four hours. A workmate of Young's, Benjamin O'Keefe, was also arrested in relation to the murder, but was not charged. Young appeared for the first time at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court, and a statement on behalf of the McGuire family was delivered outside the courthouse by their solicitor, Brooke Tamanika. Calls for change grew in the Ballarat community, as Ms McGuire became the third woman in the city to be allegedly murdered by a man in the first half of 2024. Ms McGuire was laid to rest at a funeral in Ballarat on April 29, 2024, attended by about 600 people. Lachlan Morganti is charged with stealing money from Hannah's GoFundMe A man associated with the Clunes Cricket Club, and known to the McGuire family, Lachlan Morganti, is charged with stealing over $60,000 from the GoFundMe established after her death. Morganti used the money to fuel his online gambling addiction and was reported to police after transferring a portion of the winnings to his friends, who realised where the money had come from. He later admitted to the McGuire family that he had lost all of the money. A magistrate called Morganti's crime one of the "most self-indulgent acts of greed" she had seen in her career. Debbie McGuire called Morganti's actions "vile". "He had the audacity to attend [Hannah McGuire's] funeral, where he was amongst the very people who contributed to the GoFundMe, whose money he had gambled away," she said. "I'm heartbroken for those who financially contributed when they didn't know what they could do for us, I have faith the adjudication will be one that is considerate on our family and the community." Morganti avoided jail and was placed on a two-year community corrections order after pleading guilty to the theft. Lachlan Young pleads not guilty to murdering Hannah McGuire At a hearing at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on September 19, 2024, Young pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms McGuire. He appeared remotely in the court from custody. The courtroom was filled with supporters of the McGuire family, each wearing shirts with her face on them and the words "she matters". Young elected to have the trial fast-tracked to the Supreme Court, skipping the usual committal process in the Magistrates' Court. The trial begins and ends after Lachlan Young changes his plea The Supreme Court murder trial began on July 8, sitting in Ballarat. Young's legal team conceded that Young had killed Ms McGuire, but that the death was accidental and without murderous intent. The trial went for eight days, with the jury hearing from several witnesses. Young's colleague, Benjamin O'Keefe, is a key prosecution witness who told the court he had driven out to Scarsdale with Young on the morning of Ms McGuire's murder. He said Young had set Ms McGuire's orange Mitsubishi Triton on fire with a blow torch, but denied ever seeing her body inside the vehicle. Mr O'Keefe's cross-examination had finished on Wednesday, July 16, and the court was due to hear from more prosecution witnesses. The trial was adjourned on Thursday, July 17, due to "issues that arose overnight". Supreme Court Justice James Elliott did not elaborate on what the issues were. On the morning of Friday, July 18, Young changed his plea, and pleaded guilty to murdering Ms McGuire. Young will return to court on July 25. Affected by this story? Call Lifeline 13 11 14
Sydney Morning Herald
15 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Ballarat man Lachlan Young pleads guilty to murder of Hannah McGuire
A man accused of killing Clunes woman Hannah McGuire has pleaded guilty to her murder mid-way through a criminal trial into her death. There were dramatic scenes at the Victorian Supreme Court in Ballarat on Friday when the court was told the jury was being discharged after Lachlan Young, who was on trial for the murder of his former girlfriend, had decided to change his plea overnight. Young previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter and not guilty to one count of murder. On Friday, his lawyer Glenn Casement told the court his client now wanted to plead guilty to the more serious charge of murder. 'Mr Young, you're charged with murder at Sebastopol in Victoria on the fifth day of April 2024, you murdered Hannah McGuire, how do you plead – guilty or not guilty?' Young was asked. 'Guilty,' Young responded as he stared straight ahead. As Justice James Elliott discharged the jury, McGuire's family and friends clapped and embraced.
The Age
15 hours ago
- The Age
Ballarat man Lachlan Young pleads guilty to murder of Hannah McGuire
A man accused of killing Clunes woman Hannah McGuire has pleaded guilty to her murder mid-way through a criminal trial into her death. There were dramatic scenes at the Victorian Supreme Court in Ballarat on Friday when the court was told the jury was being discharged after Lachlan Young, who was on trial for the murder of his former girlfriend, had decided to change his plea overnight. Young previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter and not guilty to one count of murder. On Friday, his lawyer Glenn Casement told the court his client now wanted to plead guilty to the more serious charge of murder. 'Mr Young, you're charged with murder at Sebastopol in Victoria on the fifth day of April 2024, you murdered Hannah McGuire, how do you plead – guilty or not guilty?' Young was asked. 'Guilty,' Young responded as he stared straight ahead. As Justice James Elliott discharged the jury, McGuire's family and friends clapped and embraced.
