A man charged with the gruesome stabbing murder of a young graduate has taken a step closer to avoiding a jail sentence after obtaining a ‘second opinion’ that has deemed him mentally unfit to stand trial.
Luay Nader Sako, 36, of Roxburgh Park, last year pleaded not guilty to the brutal stabbing murder of Celeste Manno in anticipation of securing an assessment from a forensic psychiatrist that supported an assertion he was not capable of committing the crime due to his poor mental health.
Daily Mail Australia revealed in October the alleged killer’s first attempt failed after a doctor made an ‘inconclusive assessment’ of his mental state.
Celeste Manno, 23, was allegedly murdered in her Melbourne home in November 2020
Luay Sako, 35, handed himself in to local police hours after Ms Manno’s death and was taken to hospital under police guard, and was charged with murder
Celeste Manno had been in the prime of life when she was stabbed to death in her own bed
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne heard Sako had succeeded in his bid for a more conclusive medical option after high-profile forensic psychiatrist Dr Andrew Carroll came to his rescue.
In a 30-page report, Dr Carroll found Sako was not only unfit to stand trial over the alleged murder, but would remain that way for at least the next year.
The court heard the psychiatrist, who examined the fitness of Bourke Street killer James ‘Dimitrious’ Gargasoulas, claimed Sako’s was a ‘complicated situation’.
Crown prosecutor Patrick Bourke was unable to say whether Dr Carroll’s claims would be contested, but suggested it would likely seek yet another opinion of its own.
If contested, the matter could go to trial to assess whether a jury agreed with the diagnosis.
If agreed by the Crown, Sako will be placed into a mental health facility until he is deemed well enough by forensic doctors to be released back into the community.
Many killers dealt with this way are released back into the community in secret within years.
The assessment will come as a cruel blow to the family of Ms Manno.
Sako allegedly smashed through his former colleague’s window at her family home in Mernda, in Melbourne’s northeast, before repeatedly stabbing her with a knife as she lay in bed in November 2020.
He then allegedly fled over a fence that was left stained with blood.
Sako handed himself in to local police hours later and was taken to hospital under police guard and treated for a hand injury that required surgery.
Ms Manno was Sako’s team leader at a Serco call centre before he was fired from the role
Heartbroken mum Aggie Di Mauro pictured with her beloved daughter
In October last year, Sako’s barrister Sam Norton, of Stary Norton Halphen, told the Supreme Court of Victoria his client’s initial medical assessment was inconclusive.
‘This is a very complex situation in terms of Mr Sako’s mental health,’ he said.
‘That assessor has indicated that in his opinion a further opinion ought to be obtained.’
Mr Norton told the court he hoped Victorian Legal Aid would finance not only Dr Carroll’s services, but his own.
At Sako’s first court hearing in November – one of many he refused to attend in person – the court heard Sako had no mental health issues and was not on any medication at the time his 23-year old victim was allegedly killed.
Sako had been freed to live in the community at the time of the alleged murder after being charged with breaching a restraining order.
Ms Manno was Sako’s team leader at a Serco call centre in South Morang and comforted him when he left the company a year earlier.
Sako’s family was devastated by his arrest and said they didn’t know much about what he had been doing at the time.
He had been unemployed and living at his parent’s house.
There was an outpouring of grief over the shocking death of Ms Manno, who was supposed to be celebrating her birthday that week.
Ms Manno’s boyfriend Chris Ridsdale was among many family and friends who mourned the beloved young woman in the days after her death.
Ms Manno is pictured with her partner, Chris Ridsdale, who had been looking forward to celebrating her birthday the week she was killed
Pictured: The crime scene in Mernda where Ms Manno was found dead
‘She was supposed to be having Christmas with our family. Her family. Her mother. Her brothers,’ he said at the time.
Mr Ridsdale revealed her excitement to upload the first photo of them as a couple to her social media profiles.
‘We took this picture on Saturday this week,’ he wrote.
‘We talked and joked about how this would be the first picture of us together on her social media and she was so excited to share it with everyone.
‘I was told, very clearly, that this was to be my new profile picture.’
Mr Ridsdale said he rarely uses his social media accounts, but uploaded it on as a special tribute Ms Manno.
‘Now it seems like the best thing I can do for her. To show everyone how much she meant to me and how beautiful she was,’ he said.
Ms Manno’s father, Tony Manno, said the justice system had let his girl down.
‘It let my daughter down,’ he said. ‘And it’s gotta be changed. It won’t bring her back but it has to be changed.’
Jayden Manno expressed similar concerns over Victoria’s revolving door justice system.
‘It’s harrowing. Such a senseless act,’ Jayden said.
‘It should never have happened to our family, not to anyone’s family. This can’t happen.’
Sako will return to court later this month.
There has been an outpouring of grief for Ms Manno
Grieving family: Ms Manno’s brothers Jayden (left), Alesandro, uncle Gabriel and father Tony Manno, with her beloved baby niece Daisy, addressed the media in November
