Mum heard window smash before Celeste’s death
A devastated Aggie Di Mauro has slammed the man who allegedly killed her daughter, saying she hoped he would “burn in hell”.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The mother of murdered Melbourne woman Celeste Manno has told how she thought she was having a “horrible nightmare” when she heard her daughter’s alleged killer smash through her bedroom window and stab her to death.
The 23-year-old’s mother Aggie Di Mauro said she hoped the “monster” who allegedly took her daughter’s life would “burn in hell” and that she wished she had died instead.
Her emotional words came as family, friends and colleagues gathered to farewell Ms Manno, a fortnight after she was allegedly killed by her obsessed stalker Luay Sako, 35, in her Mernda home.
Ms Di Mauro alleged she was sleeping in a room near her “beautiful” daughter when her accused killer smashed his way through her bedroom window.
She claimed she ran to help her daughter upon hearing her dying gasps, but Celeste was already gone.
“I can’t understand how I didn’t hear him jump the fence. I keep going over it in my head and doesn’t make sense … nothing makes sense,” she said.
“I thought I was having a horrible nightmare when I heard the shattering of the glass and it wasn’t until I heard you gasping that I knew it was real.
“I couldn’t believe what I walked into you … you were lifeless.
“I am never going to forget that image in my head.
“The look in your eyes so distant, so far away. I knew you were gone but I didn’t want to believe what I was seeing.
“I was praying, sweetie, with everything that I could bring you were back. Your little eyes were open but I could see you were gone
“While I waited for the ambulance I tried to breathe life into you and begged: ‘Don’t leave me baby girl, stay with me.’
“I can’t imagine the horror you must have felt to have been woken by some monster.
“I didn’t get there in time and I am so angry at myself.
“I am so sorry. I am ashamed of myself because you believed your mum would always protect you.”
Ms Manno had allegedly been stalked for months by Mr Sako, a former employee she worked with at Serco call centre.
He allegedly became obsessed with her after she was kind to him the day he was fired and it had escalated to the point where she had taken an intervention order out against him.
Ms Di Mauro revealed her kind-hearted daughter felt sorry for him despite the terror he allegedly put her through prior to her brutal killing.
“We would have felt horrible, we would probably have felt sorry for him but it wouldn’t have been our fault – you still would have been with me.”
Her mother said she plans to stare Sako down and make him pay for what he allegedly did.
She said her daughter studied criminology at university to understand the minds of criminals so she could help them.
“You forgave everything and everyone, sweetie. But not me. I am not forgiving. I want him to burn in hell … I wish … we would have gone together, sweet pea … I will get the justice you deserve,” Ms Di Mauro said.
“I will fight until I do. But no matter what, no amount of justice will get you back. I love you and I miss you.”
Ms Manno’s white casket was carried from the Whittlesea funeral by her father Tony, brothers Alessandro and Jayden and boyfriend Chris Ridsdale.
White, blue, purple and pink balloons were released by loved ones who formed a guard of honour as her hearse left the service, followed by her grieving family members.
‘Disgusting’: Customers turn on restaurateur charged with displaying swastika
Customers have turned against Nomad restaurant after one of its owners was charged for displaying a swastika at Sunday’s pro-Palestinian march in Hyde Park.
White supremacist granted last-minute reprieve over Nazi salute
Melbourne white supremacist Jacob Hersant will be jailed after he was found guilty of performing a Nazi salute under new laws – but he won’t spend any time behind bars for at least a month.