Melbourne mum heartbroken after daughter’s killer’s changes his plea

A mother came face-to-face with her daughter’s killer, only to be left heartbroken by his “shocking” legal backflip.

A mother’s heartbreak continues after her daughter’s alleged killer made a significant legal backflip that she fears may shorten his sentence.

Aggie Di Mauro came face-to-face with Luay Sako, the man charged with killing Melbourne woman Celeste Manno in her bed, for the first time when he pleaded guilty to the 23-year-old’s murder.

Celeste Manno was murdered in her family home in Mernda. Picture: Supplied

Luay Sako was charged with Ms Manno’s murder. Picture: Supplied.

After months of refusing to plead guilty – using a mental impairment defence – or to attend court hearings, Ms Di Mauro said was shocked to hear him suddenly backflip.

“To actually finally hear him admit it, to actually get to yesterday (April 6) and hear him plead guilty, was quite shocking,” Di Mauro told 7NEWS after the plea.

A judge or magistrate must consider a guilty plea when sentencing. The earlier the offender pleads, the more likely and more significant a reduction in their sentence could be.

“I’m never going to understand why we’re expected to see that as a sign of remorse,” Ms Di Mauro said, adding that the family is outraged it might shorten his sentence.

Aggie Di Mauro with her daughter Celeste Manno who was murdered in her bedroom. Source: Supplied

Police allege Sako, now 37, allegedly smashed the window of Ms Manno’s home in Mernda, in the city’s northeast, and stabbed her to death in the early hours of November 16, 2020.

He had allegedly been stalking the young woman for a year before her death after they worked together at Serco, a call centre in Mill Park.

Ms Manno’s family claim Sako became obsessed an infatuated with Ms Manno after she walked him out the door when he was sacked.

“She wasn’t close with him at all … she just walked him out the door, and ever since that day, he’s just been obsessed with her and harassing her over social media for months and months with vulgar and disgusting messages,” Ms Manno’s brother Alessandro told reporters at the time.

Ms Manno’s brother Alessandro and mother have opened up about their devastating loss. Picture: Jason Edwards

Sako reportedly created multiple social media accounts after Ms Manno blocked him online, and Alessandro said his sister went to the police to file a restraining order against the then 35-year-old.

Police allege after committing the crime, Sako jumped the side fence of the home and drove himself to the Mernda police station, where he was arrested. Homicide squad detectives later charged him with Ms Manno’s murder, but Sako has refused to plead guilty ever since, using a mental impairment defence.

But defence lawyer Sam Norton told a court in November 2020 his client was not on medication and did not have mental health issues regarding revealing custody management issues.

In June 2021, Sako’s medical records were released to his defence team to be provided to a forensic psychiatrist for assessment after an order in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

In July 2021, the day after refusing to attend a court hearing, Corrections Victoria said Sako was found by prison staff after an attempt to harm himself at the Melbourne Assessment Prison.

In September 2021, he pleaded not guilty to Ms Manno’s murder.

But after psychiatrists rejected his mental impairment claims, 7NEWS reports, Sako pleaded guilty to murder.

Ms Di Mauro delivered an emotional eulogy at her daughter’s funeral. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Ms Di Mauro, who was sleeping in a room nearby when her daughter was killed, vowed to get the justice her daughter deserved.

“I will get you the justice you deserve. I will fight until I do, (but) no matter what sweetie, there’s no amount of justice that can get you back,” she said in an emotional eulogy.

“I don’t know how I’m going to go on without you here. I love you sweetie, I miss you more than words can say.”

She told mourners she would never get the image of her daughter’s lifeless body out of her head.

“The look in your eyes was so distant. I knew you were gone but I didn’t want to believe it,” she said.

“Your little eyes were open but I could see you were gone. While I was waiting for that ambulance I tried to breathe life back into you.

“I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine the horror you must have felt.”

Sako will face court again later in April.

Originally published as Melbourne mum heartbroken after daughter’s killer’s changes his plea