A 21-year-old man will face a Ballarat court today, charged with the murder of 23-year-old Hannah McGuire.
According to reports, 21-year-old Lachie Young was arrested by police with another 22-year-old man on Friday, following the discovery of Hannah McGuire’s body in the remote town of Scarsdale, outside of Ballarat, Victoria.
Emergency services were responding to calls of a fire in Scarsdale at 10am on Friday when they discovered McGuire’s remains in a car, which had been set alight, according to a statement from Victoria Police.
The 22-year-old man was released from police custody, but authorities have charged 21-year-old Young with one count of murder. He will face the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court today.
Police say Hannah McGuire and Lachie Young were known to each other, with several media reports indicating they were living together as partners and recently ended the relationship.
McGuire, a teacher and much loved member of the community from Clunes, Victoria, is the 18th woman in 2024 to have her life stolen at the hands of male violence in Australia, according to Destroy the Joint’s Counting Dead Women.
Two in five women (39 per cent) in Australia have experienced violence since the age of 15, according to statistics from Our Watch. Perpetrators of violence against women are most commonly men, and are more likely to be known by the victim (35 per cent) than a stranger (11 per cent).
Australia’s First Nations women face disproportionately higher rates of violence than their non-Indigenous counterparts. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are 31 times more likely to be hospitalised as a result of domestic and family violence.
Her death has sparked outrage across her community and the country, including state and federal parliamentarians.
“Hannah McGuire was loved by so many in the Clunes community and had a heart of gold,” wrote Victorian MP Martha Haylett, the member for Ripon, in a statement on social media. “My deepest condolences go out to her family at this devastating time.”
“Yet another cowardly murder of another woman,” Jason Wood MP, the federal member for La Trobe, wrote in a social media post. “My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.”
Zoe Daniel MP, the federal independent member for Goldstein, has been vocal on domestic violence in the House of Representatives, and also released a statement on McGuire’s alleged murder.
“Another woman is dead,” she said. “This must stop. Enough is enough.”
‘You were taken way too soon’
Yesterday, the Clunes Cricket Club created a GoFundMe page to support Hannah McGuire’s family and friends, including her parents, Glenn and Debbie.
On their fundraising page, the club said McGuire’s parents have had to close their business, which sponsors the cricket club, following their daughter’s death.
“Glenn and Debbie sponsor the Clunes Cricket Club and are very generous people. As a club and a community, we want to put our arms around the McGuire family and everyone close to Hannah,” the club wrote on the GoFundMe page.
“We know times are tough right now, but any donations big or small are greatly appreciated. Let’s rally as a community and get behind this wonderful family.
“You were taken way too soon Hannah, but may you rest in peace.”
In less than 24 hours, the GoFundMe page received 675 donations and raised $44,062, significantly surpassing the $15,000 target.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au.
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