A man who killed his former girlfriend and then tried to stage her death as a suicide claims he is not a murderer.

Lachlan Young, 23, faced the Victorian Supreme Court in Ballarat today for the start of his murder trial.

He has pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter, admitting he did kill his former partner Hannah McGuire on April 5, 2024.

Defence barrister Glenn Casement admitted Young had made “appalling and bad choices” to try to cover up what he had done.

But he told the jury that did not mean his client was guilty of murder.

The killing was instead an unplanned and spontaneous event that lacked murderous intent, Casement said.

It was not disputed that Young sent the text messages from McGuire’s phone and made the bank transfers, the barrister said.

But the allegations made by Young’s workmate were contested and Casement urged the jury to be critical of the man’s account when he gives evidence.

Casement mentioned that jurors need to thoroughly evaluate McGuire’s choice to visit the house willingly prior to her death, as well as consider the details regarding the intervention orders.

The trial before Justice James Elliott continues.

Help is available from the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.