A killer was motivated by male entitlement, jealousy and rage when he strangled his ex-girlfriend and then burnt her remains in remote bushland, a prosecutor says.

Hannah McGuire had the right to leave Lachlan Young after months of abusive and controlling behaviour, crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill told the Victorian Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Instead of accepting the relationship was over, Young murdered the 23-year-old woman because he could not stand to see her living a life without him.

"He attacked and killed Ms McGuire in her own home," Ms Churchill said.

"Her final moments must have been filled with terror."

Young, 23, initially denied he murdered Ms McGuire, arguing her April 2024 death was a spontaneous incident.

But after eight days of evidence at trial, he admitted he str

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