Celeste Manno’s grieving mum erupts on The Project in scathing attack on Albo and governments in tackling violence against women

Celeste Manno’s heartbroken mother has criticized Anthony Albanese and key government figures for not doing enough to tackle violence against women, saying she ‘doesn’t want to hear their excuses’.

A fed-up Aggie Di Mauro showed no restraint in a brutal attack on the Prime Minister and other politicians during an emotional appearance on Channel Ten’s The Project on Monday night.

She has spent the past three years fighting for justice and change after her daughter Celeste, 23, was stabbed up to 23 times by a former colleague while sleeping in her Melbourne home in November 2020.

Ms Di Mauro accused politicians of failing to take action or “having the guts to do something”.

“We don’t have the right politicians, it’s that simple,” she said angrily.

‘We have a government in power. Well, I wasted three and a half years of my time with them, so that’s not the government I want to deal with.”

Mrs Di Mauro’s daughter Celeste Manno, 23, (pictured right) was murdered in their home by a stalker

‘We all say: enough is enough! It’s our daughters who are being murdered, not theirs.

‘There are solutions. They don’t want to put ankle bracelets on these animals.

“If the animal that killed my daughter had an ankle monitor, we would have at least had a chance to leave that house.”

“I don’t want to hear about their excuses, and I don’t want this smokescreen.

“The community doesn’t want them.”

Luay Nader Sako, 39, stabbed Ms Manno, 23, up to 23 times on November 16, 2020, as she slept in her own bed in Mernda, in Melbourne’s north-east, where she thought she was safe.

Sako, who stalked Ms Manno, avoided a life sentence and received 36 years behind bars. He will be eligible for parole in 2054.

Ms Di Mauro believed that the reviews that politicians continue to promise are a waste of taxpayers’ money.

“We got a really good message from the Victorian Law Reform Commission because of what happened to Celeste,” she recalled

“Quick fix, they came up with 46 recommendations, Victoria buried them.

“I was there when they filed them, they were filed under another 51 or so reports.

“I was promised they would be carried out.”

Celeste Manno was stabbed to death by Luay Sako during a violent attack. Her mother, Ms Di Mauro, told The Project that ankle bracelets for men who pose a threat to women are a simple solution that could stop women from dying, but politicians will not implement them.

Ms Di Mauro accused politicians and the Victorian Attorney General of delaying everything and meeting her as promised.

She also implored Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to get involved.

‘The (Victoria) opposition leaders, I met them both, John Pesutto and Michael O’Brien, shook hands on the way out, wanted me to absolutely believe that this is what they are here to do: hold our government to account, ‘ she said.

“They asked one question about the recommendations, and that was last October.

‘That’s not holding people accountable. So maybe, I don’t know, who should we call? Mr Dutton, can he step in and do something here? ‘

She claimed that she has served numerous times at different levels of government over the past three and a half years.

‘From the beginning, I came across all kinds of things condolences and that they will do better next time,” said Ms Di Mauro.

“Next time I won’t bring Celeste!”

Aggie’s daughter Celeste Manno was stabbed to death in her own home three and a half years ago

Mrs Di Mauro is convinced that an ankle monitor, which legal experts oppose, would have saved her daughter’s life if Sako had been ordered to wear one.

“A breach of an intervention order does not mean that person is an offender at that time, it would affect his or her civil liberties and freedom of movement,” Ms Di Mauro said.

‘What I say, I don’t care about their freedom. His (Sako’s) freedom of movement took Celeste six feet under.”

She has not given up the fight for justice and plans to appeal Sako’s sentence.

“I will not stop because not only are we losing our daughters, but we must prepare for even more injustice,” she said.

At the time of Sako’s sentencing in February, Ms Di Mauro shouted in anger outside the court as she tore up a speech she had prepared to read if the judge achieved the desired outcome.

‘We were forced to rely on the system we lost confidence in three years ago. It failed Celeste then and it failed her again now,” she said.

“Today’s outcome proves how flawed the justice system is.”

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Celeste Manno’s murderer Luay Sako (photo) is eligible for parole after thirty years