'Valued so little': neighbour killer's sentence slammed

The family of Vicki Apostolopoulos, a woman killed by her neighbour Milorad Zaric, are devastated by the 21-year sentence handed down by a Melbourne court. Ms Apostolopoulos, 53, was attacked and stabbed while visiting Zaric's home in eastern Melbourne on November 16, 2024. The attack came after Zaric, under the influence of ketamine, cannabis and alcohol, assaulted his own teenage son and chased his own son into Ms Apostolopoulos's property.

Justice Jacinta Forbes considered factors such as Zaric's reduced moral culpability due to his psychosis, his remorse, good character, and early guilty plea when setting the sentence. Despite these mitigating circumstances, the non-parole period of 14 years and six months left Ms Apostolopoulos's family feeling their loss will never be fully acknowledged.

The family expressed their disappointment with the sentence, describing it as disgraceful and not acceptable.