Celeste Manno accused killer Luay Sako tried to take his own life in jail

The man accused of stalking and killing Celeste Manno is getting medical treatment after a self harm attempt in prison.

The man accused of stalking and murdering former colleague Celeste Manno in her bedroom has tried to kill himself in prison.

The Herald Sun can reveal Luay Sako, 35, attempted to take his own life at Melbourne Assessment Prison days before his court appearance on Tuesday.

Prison sources revealed the incident occurred in an exercise yard used by prisoners in protective custody.

Sako was rushed to hospital for treatment and is currently being kept in an observation cell.

“Staff did not see him and were slow to react,” a prison source said.

“He went to hospital and is currently in a muirhead cell.”

Sako has been locked up in a protection unit since arriving at Melbourne Assessment Prison, a max-security facility.

Luay Sako.

Celeste Manno.

Protection units are reserved for high-profile prisoners and those at risk of danger.

Sako has been charged with the murder of Celeste Manno, a 23-year-old woman he allegedly became obsessed with while working at Serco call centre.

It’s alleged he smashed his way into her Mernda home and stabbed her to death as she slept last November following an alleged campaign of stalking, including over social media.

On Tuesday, Sako refused to appear in court, triggering an outburst by Ms Manno’s mother Aggie Di Mauro, who was watching the hearing remotely.

She labelled it a “cowardly act” and called out magistrate Donna Bakos for not ordering him to appear.

“You can see how it’s quite a cowardly act for him to not attend his own hearing,” Ms Di Mauro said.

A Department of Justice and Community Safety spokeswoman declined to comment about the jailyard incident.

“Corrections Victoria does not comment on individual prisoners, former prisoners or placements,” the spokeswoman said.

The death of Ms Manno outraged the nation and sparked an independent review of stalking and intervention orders in Victoria.

Her mum is fighting to overhaul the justice system, after it failed to protect her daughter who sought protection from police and the courts in the lead up to her death.

Sako’s case will return to court on September 20.