MELBOURNE, Australia: Twenty-three-year-old Celeste Manno, who was stabbed to death inside her Melbourne home on Monday, had gone to the police about her alleged killer, an ex-colleague became obsessed with her after she was kind to him the day he was fired.
The victim and her mother were at the family home in Mernda, in Melbourne’s north-east, when Manno’s alleged killer broke through a window and fatally attacked her about 4:10 am.
A 35-year-old man was arrested after he drove himself to Mernda police station. On Tuesday, he remained in hospital under police guard with non-life-threatening injuries.
He has not yet been charged.
The family of a young woman found dead in her home claim she was let down by a broken system.
Celeste Manno was found dead in her family’s Mernda home in the early hours of Monday morning.
A 35-year-old man known to her presented himself to a nearby police station shortly after and was arrested.
He remains under police guard in hospital for treatment to minor injuries.
Manno’s father Tony said the system had let his daughter down. “It’s got to be changed. It won’t bring her back but it’s got to be changed. Too many scenarios have already happened. What’s it going to take for the government to listen? It’s not right. It’s got to stop.”
Manno’s older brother Jayden, 33, said his younger sister was the most “bright, lively” woman.
“She was the most intelligent one of all of us, the best of all us,” he said.
He said the family were struggling to come to terms with their grief.
“It’s harrowing. Harrowing. Such a senseless, unfathomable evil act. Should never happen, not to our family, not to anyone’s family. This can’t happen, it should never happen.
“We need the government to listen. Everyone should have the right to live their lives. In their homes, in their bedrooms, on the streets – no one should be scared. Man, woman or child, this evil should not exist. Things need to change. This evil cannot be allowed to continue. Things need to change.”
Many colleagues visited the scene on Tuesday, leaving flowers and crying and hugging one another.
One of Manno’s team members, who did not want to be named, said that some colleagues had been aware of the stalking allegations at the time.
“I knew she had someone inappropriately infatuated but that was a while ago, a long time ago,” he said.
“I knew her reasonably well. I wish I knew her better. Everyone at work knew Celeste. Everyone.”
Another woman who was in Manno’s team at work, who also did not want to be named, said that the 23-year-old was wise beyond her years and had climbed the ranks of the company quickly.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription
