Hannah McGuire's violent death at the hands of Lachlan Young was motivated by "male entitlement, jealousy and rage", a crown prosecutor has argued on the final day of her killer's plea hearing.
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Young returned to the Supreme Court this week for a hearing ahead of his sentencing.
On Monday, Young's defence team admitted for the first time that he strangled Ms McGuire to death on the bathroom floor of their Sebastopol home on April 5, 2024.
The murder followed her attempt to end the abusive relationship, which had been marred by violence, degradation, and control on Young's part.
Crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill delivered her final legal arguments on Tuesday, October 28, before Justice James Elliot retired to consider Young's sentencing.
"Hannah McGuire was a much-loved and deeply missed young woman, whose life was taken because the offender wouldn't allow her to live a life beyond his relationship with her," Ms Churchill said.
"Women are entitled to end relationships without it resulting in their death.
"The prevalence of intimate partner violence has been declared a national emergency ... all too often, men come before the court, having killed their partner or former partner."
After murdering Ms McGuire, Young callously put her body into the rear footwell of her Triton, drove the car out to bushland in Scarsdale, and set her and the car on fire, taking a moment to watch her burn.
He then staged her death to look like a suicide, texting her mum a suicide note and transferring $5000 from her account to his.
He told friends and family that she had taken her own life by burning herself in her car.
Ms Churchill said after burning Ms McGuire's body, Young's cousin remarked to him how he previously described her as "beautiful and hot", to which he responded: "Well, she's hot now, isn't she?".
Ms Churchill said Young's actions following the murder "denied her any dignity, even in her death".
"This was motivated by male entitlement, jealousy and rage and is expressive of the worst kind of male attitudes towards women," she said.
Hannah McGuire should have been able to navigate the end of her relationship without fatal consequences.
- Crown Prosecutor, Kristie Churchill.
"She was killed in her own home, where she was entitled to feel safe.
"Her final moments must have been filled with terror as the offender took her life."
The prosecution argued Young should serve a "lengthy" time in prison for the murder, which was in the "upper range" of crimes.
The 60 seconds that spoke volumes in an emotional courtroom
Tuesday's proceedings included a poignant moment when Justice Elliot requested a minute of silence in honour of the 23-year-old woman from Clunes.
During the minute of silence, Young kept his head up, with his eyes open and looking forward, while a courtroom packed with Ms McGuire's loved ones bowed their heads.
Young did not give evidence during his July trial, and has made no statements indicating remorse since court proceedings began.
During Tuesday's proceedings, Justice Elliot highlighted that Young "has not himself directly expressed remorse".
Hannah McGuire was a much-loved and deeply missed young woman, whose life was taken because the offender wouldn't allow her to live a life beyond his relationship with her
- Crown Prosecutor, Kristie Churchill.
Ms Churchill pointed out that no evidence of Young's remorse had been presented to the court and described him as "remorseless".
Young had a 'troubled upbringing'
Young's defence lawyer, Glenn Casement, told the court the 23-year-old had mental health issues and attempted suicide before.
He said Young had a "troubled upbringing" with a "lack of positive role models".
"When Ms McGuire decided to end the relationship ... he was ill-equipped to deal with it," Mr Casement said.
He said that Ms McGuire was sporadically contacting Young in the weeks leading up to her murder, and that the break-up "was not a clean break in the relationship".
Justice Elliot responded to this argument with: "So what?"
Mr Casement said Young killed Ms McGuire in "spontaneous and unpremeditated circumstances".
"This was a young man who was troubled and had committed an awful crime, but there is some context behind his situation," he said.
"The offending didn't involve planning or premeditation ... murderous intent evolved spontaneously in the heat of the argument."
Judge Elliot will now take time to consider the Victim Impact Statements heard on Monday, as well as the legal arguments submitted by the prosecution and defence, ahead of Young's sentencing hearing.
