Accused killer’s ex didn’t move after ute set alight
Tara Cosoleto |
A woman did not try to move after an accused murderer allegedly set fire to the ute she was in, a jury has been told.
Forensic analyst Laura Noonan gave evidence in the Victorian Supreme Court that Hannah McGuire’s body remained in the same position during the April 2024 car fire.
“There didn’t appear to be any attempts to move,” Ms Noonan told the jury on Friday.
Prosecutors allege Lachlan Young, 23, murdered Ms McGuire in the early hours of April 5 and then drove her body to remote bushland in Scarsdale, southwest of Ballarat, before setting the ute alight.
Young admits killing his former girlfriend and then trying to stage her death as a suicide but denies the charge of murder.
He instead claims her death was an unplanned and spontaneous incident.
On the third day of Young’s murder trial in Ballarat, Ms Noonan told the jury there was no evidence flammable liquids were used to set the ute alight.
The severe damage caused to the vehicle was likely because the blaze had burned for about six hours before it was discovered, she said.
The forensic expert told the jury Ms McGuire’s body was found in the rear passenger footwell of her orange Mitsubishi Triton.
Her body was resting on its left side with her head facing towards the rear of the ute, Ms Noonan said.
Ms McGuire’s remains were significantly burnt in the blaze, although Ms Noonan said the side of her body resting against the ute’s floor was less badly damaged.
That indicated her body had been in the same position at the time the fire was lit and throughout the duration of the blaze, the expert said.
It was also unlikely that Ms McGuire had been resting on the back seat and then fell into the footwell, she said.
She believed the fire was started near the front passenger seat as the damage appeared to be more severe in that section of the vehicle.
Firefighter Alwyn Parker also gave evidence as he was one of the first to respond to the ute fire on the morning of April 5.
He told the jury the ute was no longer alight when his fire crew arrived about 9.55am, although two tree trunks alongside the vehicle were smouldering.
Mr Parker said he thought it was “very suspicious” how the trunks were so close to the ute.
The jury on Thursday visited the site where Ms McGuire’s remains were found, as well as the Sebastopol home where the alleged murder happened.
Justice James Elliott on Friday thanked the jurors for their patience and courtesy throughout the inspection, noting how challenging the cold conditions had been.
The trial will continue on Monday.
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AAP
