A Bayswater community is reeling after a local man, Milorad "Mick" Zaric, brutally stabbed his next-door neighbour, Vicky Apostolopoulos, to death in a drug-fueled rage. Details of the shocking incident, which unfolded last November, were laid bare in Victoria's Supreme Court today, painting a picture of a cherished life tragically cut short and the devastating impact on a grieving family.

Ms. Apostolopoulos, a loving and devoted mother known for her generosity and "heart of gold," had baked cupcakes for Zaric just two days before her death on November 16, 2024. He had even texted her that night, describing the baked goods as "amazing." However, prosecutors detailed how Zaric's behaviour dramatically escalated after he consumed ketamine, a drug he reportedly took for the first time in the days leading up to the killing.

Descent into Violence

The court heard that Zaric, a long-term resident of Bayswater who had lived next to Ms. Apostolopoulos for two decades, was a regular cannabis user but had no prior experience with ketamine. His son and girlfriend became increasingly alarmed by his erratic and violent actions after he began taking the drug. The disturbing sequence of events included Zaric pushing his son down the stairs, killing a pet turtle, and smashing a television.

In a terrifying escalation, after his girlfriend and son believed he had calmed, Zaric attempted to attack his son with a knife. The boy, fearing for his life, fled to the sanctuary of Ms. Apostolopoulos's home next door. It was at her front door, moments later, that tragedy struck.

Ms. Apostolopoulos's son witnessed Zaric approach, utter the chilling words, "Welcome home, Vicky," before repeatedly stabbing her. In a courageous act, the son fought off Zaric, putting him in a headlock, which allowed his younger brother to escape the horrific scene. When police arrived, Zaric, who was arrested shortly after, confessed to taking a "bunch of ket" and, when asked about the knife's whereabouts, chillingly replied, "In her neck." He later claimed to have been "microdosing" ketamine, snorting the drug every 40 minutes, and feeling "possessed."

Community Mourns a "One in a Million" Mother

The courtroom was packed with more than 50 of Ms. Apostolopoulos's loved ones, who sat through the harrowing details, many visibly distraught. A photograph of Ms. Apostolopoulos, also known as Vicky Van Aken, was displayed as victim impact statements were read aloud, painting a vivid picture of a woman deeply cherished by her family and community.

Her sister, Mary Kadis, tearfully described Vicky as "one in a million" and a person who would always help anyone in need. "She was all about family and full of love for everyone," Ms. Kadis shared, expressing the profound heartbreak, shock, anger, and sense of loss felt by all. Ms. Apostolopoulos's mother, Sofia, voiced the unbearable pain, wishing the entire ordeal was "just a bad nightmare" and lamenting that her daughter deserved to watch her children grow up.

Even Zaric's own son submitted a statement, describing his father's actions as an act of betrayal and the murder as "devastating." "The person I needed most was the person who hurt me the most. That is something I will never forget," he wrote.

Guilty Plea and Sentencing Ahead

Earlier this year, Zaric entered a guilty plea to charges of murder and assault. His defence barrister, Ruth Shann SC, described this decision as "remarkable," noting that he could have pursued a mental impairment defence. Ms. Shann stated that Zaric made the legal choice to spare the victim's family the further agony of a protracted trial, despite the availability of other legal avenues. She highlighted that her client had been feeling depressed around the time of the murder and was advised by someone that ketamine could help. "He took it, and everything fell apart," Ms. Shann said, asserting that his actions were by "somebody who was in a state that was not himself."

Despite these arguments, Ms. Kadis firmly placed responsibility on Zaric, stating, "This was a result of the life he chose." Zaric sat expressionless in the dock during the proceedings. He is expected to be sentenced at a later date and faces a likely jail term of more than two decades.