Hannah McGuire’s accused killer has applied for his murder trial to be held in Melbourne, against prosecutor plans for a Ballarat trial.

Lachlan Young, 22, has pleaded not guilty to his ex-girlfriend’s murder and elected to fast-track his case to the Supreme Court in September.

The 23-year-old woman’s body was found in a burnt-out car in Scarsdale, about 25 kilometres south of Ballarat, on April 5.

Young’s lawyers confirmed to the Supreme Court on Monday that they had applied to change the venue of his trial from Ballarat to Melbourne.

“The change of venue application has been filed with the court,” Judicial Registrar Elizabeth Tueno told the court.

Prosecutor Kristie Churchill said she had received the application only “relatively recently” and was compiling a response to it.

“I can indicate it is being opposed,” she said.

Tueno said the application would be dealt with at the end of Young’s pre-trial hearings.

Ballarat was rocked by the deaths of McGuire, and mothers Samantha Murphy and Rebecca Young, within the space of two months this year.

All three killings were allegedly at the hands of men.

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-AAP