On November 14, 2024, Vicky Van Aken baked cupcakes for her next door neighbour Milorad “Mick” Zaric.
That night he texted her, describing the baked goods as “amazing”.
Two days later, Zaric stabbed Ms Van Aken to death at her front door in a drug-fuelled rage.
Details of the shocking murder were aired in Victoria’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, as the victim’s supporters paid tribute to a loving, devoted mother with a heart of gold.
“She was one in a million,” her heartbroken sister Mary Kadis said.
The court heard Zaric had lived next door to Ms Van Aken for two decades in Bayswater, in Melbourne’s outer east.
He was a regular cannabis user but had taken ketamine for the first time in the days leading up to the killing on the morning of November 16, 2024.
Prosecutor Erin Ramsay said Zaric’s son and girlfriend had become concerned by Zaric’s strange behaviour after taking ketamine.
She said Zaric pushed his son down the stairs, killed a pet turtle and smashed a television.
Later, once Zaric’s girlfriend and son thought he had calmed down, Zaric tried to attack the boy with a knife, the court heard.
Ms Ramsay said Zaric’s son fled to Ms Van Aken’s home.
Prosecutors said Milorad “Mick” Zaric’s son and girlfriend had become concerned by his strange behaviour after taking ketamine. (ABC News: Anita Lester)
The prosecutor said Ms Van Aken’s son witnessed her opening the door to Zaric.
He said, “Welcome home Vicky”, and then repeatedly stabbed her, the court heard.
Ms Van Aken’s son fought off Zaric and put him in a headlock, enabling his younger brother to flee.
When Zaric was arrested, he told police: “I’ve had a bunch of ket[amine].”
“Where’s the knife?” an officer asked.
“In her neck,” he replied.
Zaric later said he had been “microdosing” on ketamine and snorting the drug every 40 minutes.
“It was like I was possessed or something,” he said.
On Tuesday, Zaric sat expressionless in the court dock, surrounded by more than 50 of Ms Van Aken’s loved ones in the public gallery.
Her photo was displayed in the courtroom as victim impact statements were read out, describing how the murder had brought on heartbreak, shock, anger and a profound sense of loss.
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Defence lawyers successfully challenged some sections being read in open court, where Zaric was to be described as a “murderous monster” who was “eternally condemned to hell”.
“A courtroom is a place where respect is shown to all before it — victims, witnesses and the person in the dock,” defence barrister Ruth Shann SC said.
Sofia Apostolopoulos, Ms Van Aken’s mother, said that her daughter’s life mattered and she deserved to watch her children grow up.
“I wish this was all just a bad nightmare,” she said.
Ms Van Aken was described as the kind of person who would help anyone in need by her sister, Ms Kadis.
“She was all about family and full of love for everyone,” Ms Kadis said.
Ms Kadis said the killer had made “excuses” for his actions, but the blame ultimately lay with him because he chose to take drugs.
“This was a result of the life he chose,” she said.
Graphic details of the murder were aired in Victoria’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, as the victim’s supporters paid tribute to the devoted mother. (ABC News: Shane Willner-Browne)
Zaric’s son also submitted a statement and said Ms Van Aken’s death was “devastating”.
He described the murder as an act of betrayal carried out by his father.
“The person I needed most was the person who hurt me the most. That is something I will never forget,” he said.
Zaric, who has pleaded guilty to murder, is yet to be sentenced.
The hearing, before Justice Jacinta Forbes, continues.