The mom of a younger Melbourne woman murdered in her own bed by an obsessed stalker has slammed the killer for his authorized backflip after coming face-to-face with him in court docket.
Celeste Manno’s mom Aggie Di Mauro stared down her daughter’s killer Luay Sako for the primary time on Thursday when he pleaded responsible to the 23-year-old’s homicide.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Celeste Manno’s mom seething after her daughter’s killer’s authorized backflip.
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Manno’s household says the 37-year-old turned obsessed along with her when the pair labored collectively at a Mill Park name middle.
He bombarded her with greater than 150 texts and social media messages earlier than he smashed his means into her dwelling and stabbed her to demise as she slept in November 2020.
Sako had allegedly been stalking Manno for a yr earlier than her demise.
Since his arrest, Sako had refused to plead responsible, utilizing a psychological impairment protection.
Nevertheless, psychiatrists have now rejected the declare and, on Thursday, he pleaded responsible to homicide.
Chatting with 7NEWS after the plea, Di Mauro says it shouldn’t be taken as an indication of regret and the household is outraged that it’d shorten his sentence.
A responsible plea must be considered by the judge or magistrate when sentencing. The sooner the offender pleads responsible, the higher discount they’d possible obtain.
“To really lastly hear him admit it, to truly get to yesterday and listen to him plead responsible, was fairly stunning,” Di Mauro mentioned.
“I am by no means going to grasp why we’re anticipated to see that as an indication of regret.”
She says she has visited her daughter’s grave web site day by day since she was laid to relaxation.
“That is the place I’ve to come back to spend time with my daughter,” she advised 7NEWS.
“I have to reside with the truth that I used to be at dwelling when this occurred, she lived at dwelling, and I used to be too late to cease something.”
Manno was a college graduate, along with her household describing her as universally liked and clever.
“Celeste was the type of one that lit up a room as quickly as she walked in,” her boyfriend Chris Ridsdale wrote on social media following her demise.
“I’m lucky to have the ability to say I am one of many fortunate few who she thought-about her closest associates, and even luckier… she selected to share her love with me.
“To have recognized Celeste was to have been blessed.
“Such a form, caring and selfless soul who had an influence on everybody she got here into contact with.”
Sako will face court docket once more later this month.
– With Cassie Zervos
