Victoria Police investigate ‘failings’ in Celeste Manno murder

The heartbroken mother of Celeste Manno wants Victoria Police to “take responsibility” for failing her daughter after she was allegedly murdered by an obsessed stalker.

Celeste Manno was murdered allegedly by her stalker while sleeping in her bedroom . .

The mother of a young woman killed in her bedroom by a stalker holds Victoria Police partly responsible for the murder.

An internal investigation was launched by police amid revelations it failed to protect Celeste Manno.

Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill will update Ms Manno’s family on the investigation this week, seven months since her murder, allegedly by ­obsessed work colleague Luay Sako.

Aggie Di Mauro with her daughter Celeste.

Aggie Di Mauro said she wanted Victoria Police to “take responsibility” for failing her daughter.

“I hold two very responsible for Celeste. First is Victoria Police, because if they had done certain things differently maybe Sako could have been locked up before he did anything. Second is Sako himself,” she said.

Luay Sako, 35, who worked with Ms Manno, 23, at a Serco call centre, has been charged with her murder and will face a committal mention in July.

It’s alleged he smashed his way into Ms Manno’s bedroom in Mernda and killed her as she slept in the early hours of November 16, 2020.

The killing was allegedly preceded by a series of social media threats and stalking, which Ms Manno’s mother believes were not taken seriously enough by police.

Celeste was murdered at just 23 years of age.

Celeste killing was allegedly preceded by a series of social media threats and stalking.

She said the first time her daughter went to police for help, she was told nothing could be done as no crime had been committed, and she was instead advised to shut down her social media accounts to prevent harassment.

As the behaviour escalated, police supported Ms Manno in applying for an ­intervention order.

Ms Di Mauro believes the order would have been taken more seriously by Sako if it was taken out by police.

“Charges should have been laid from the get-go when we went to police, as opposed to the suggestion she get off social media,” she said.

“The second time we went to police, we were told to apply for the IVO ourselves. If the IVO was taken out by Victoria Police, he would know Celeste is not in control anymore and it’s police who decide. It might have been taken more seriously.”

Luay Sako allegedly stalked and killed Celeste.

Ms Di Mauro met with Chief Commissioner Shane Patton in March to discuss the handling of her daughter’s case.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed the force had examined its internal processes in the wake of Ms Manno’s death.

“Since this tragic event, Victoria Police has had a senior officer conduct an internal review of the Victoria Police response and the related systems and processes in place when dealing with homicides of this nature,” the spokeswoman said.

“Chief Commissioner Shane Patton has met with Ms Di Mauro to provide her an opportunity to voice her specific concerns.

“As this matter currently remains before the court, we are unable to make further comment.”

The state government ordered an urgent review into intervention orders and stalking following Ms Manno’s murder.

The review, by the Victorian Law Reform Commission review, is underway and Ms Di Mauro has encouraged people to sign the Change.org petition in support of strengthening Victoria’s stalking and harassment laws.