There’s no words great enough to describe the bravery of the young lad who saved his little brother from his mum’s murderer.
Riley Van Aken was only 16 years old when he tackled Milorad Zaric seconds after this man killed Vicky Apostolopoulos in her home at Bayswater on November 16 in 2024.
Vicky was the 83rd of 106 women killed that year.
Zaric was sentenced recently in the Victorian Supreme Court. He was ordered to serve 21 years in jail.
With time served and a generous parole date, Zaric will be free in 14.5 years.
Zaric had an undocumented history of domestic violence.
The sentence is not even adequate and it has left Vicky’s family devastated and angry.
On the day he killed Vicky, Zaric tried to murder his own son. Zaric’s son sought refuge at Vicky’s home.
Vicky had a friendship with Zaric and had no reason to expect him to harm her when the man turned up on her doorstep. She opened the door, and seconds later he had stabbed her repeatedly.
As she lay dying, her son Riley grabbed Zaric to prevent him from harming his brother.
Vicky’s sons got out of the house and they called Triple-Zero.
Riley attended court for Zaric’s sentencing.
“There’s nothing I do, whether it be school or other achievements, where I feel any sort of success from it as I’m not able to share it with Mum,” he told media.
Vicky’s elderly mum Sofia struggles to get through everyday and her family worries deeply about her.
“Vicky was my life, my first child, my best friend too,” Sofia said.
Vicky’s sister Mary Kadis said there was no justice for Vicky.
“We will never get paroled from this sentence,” she said.
“We will never get to see Vicky again, never hear her voice, another hug, or share another moment with her.”
VICKY APOSTOPOULOS MATTERS❤️
I’ve been campaigning for a Femicide Royal Commission. Please consider signing and passing the petition to those in your circle. Every signature brings us closer to change.
