Tuesday, 5 March 2024

Stalking law reform

Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (02:13): (749) Many times in this place I have raised the issue of the need to strengthen Victoria’s stalking laws. I have asked this government to implement the recommendations made by the Victorian Law Reform Commission regarding stalking, yet so far this has been completely ignored. Last week I was devastated to see Luay Sako, the stalker and murderer, was sentenced to only 30 years non-parole for the brutal murder of Celeste Manno. By the time the sentence was handed down he had already served roughly 10 per cent of his sentence. I have spoken about this so many times in this place, but to refresh your memory, Celeste Manno was a beautiful, fun-loving people person. She was 23. She had her whole life ahead of her. She worked with Mr Sako, who became obsessed with her. He stalked her, he would not stop and – long story short – he got arrested. The day after that he went and bought a knife. He went quiet for three months, until Celeste posted a photo of herself with her new boyfriend. That night he broke into her bedroom window, and he stabbed her to death with a knife he had purchased the day after the arrest. He knew what he was doing. This was premeditated for at least three months before it occurred.

I personally attended the plea hearing. I listened as each stab wound was analysed, of which there were over 20. The death of this beautiful, innocent girl was absolutely brutal. Inside the court the psychiatrist commented that Luay Sako would even pose a risk to female prison guards. This monster showed no remorse, and it was shown in the court that women would not be safe even when he was locked up. Celeste’s brother will have to live to see the man that ended his sister’s life walk the streets. This man ruined the lives of the entire family. This makes no sense. How on earth was a life sentence not applied here? He poses an unacceptable risk to the public. There is no guarantee that he will not offend again, and next time this victim could be anyone’s daughter. Celeste’s mother Aggie said no parent should ever have to face the prospect of seeing their child’s killer: ‘We’re not programmed that way. It is not humane.’ Celeste’s mum and dad and aunties and family and friends had to face him as he defended every stab wound, and Celeste’s brother will live to see this monster walk free in his lifetime. Their family has completely lost faith in the system, and rightly so. How has it come to this? How has this government not implemented the recommendations that were tabled in this place? My adjournment is for the Attorney-General, and the action that I seek is that she meets with Celeste’s family and me to discuss these matters.