The man accused of the stabbing death of Melbourne woman Celeste Manno has formally pleaded not guilty to her murder.
Luay Sako, 35, was charged with the murder of Ms Manno, 23, in her family home at Mernda, in Melbourne's northeast, in November 2020.
Sako had allegedly been stalking Ms Manno, his former colleague, for a year before her death.
Appearing via videolink from custody on Monday, Sako opted to skip a committal hearing in the magistrates court, which would have determined whether the evidence against him was strong enough to be tested before a jury.
His defence lawyer Sam Norton said his client would have reserved his plea under normal circumstances, but was entering a formal plea of not guilty so that the matter could proceed to the Supreme Court.
"This is an incredibly difficult and complex matter," he told magistrate Tara Hartnett.
Ms Manno's mother Aggie Di Mauro and her father Tony Manno listened to the hearing via video link, along with Chris Ridsdale, her former boyfriend.
Ms Manno was a university graduate, with family describing her as universally loved and intelligent.
Sako, of Roxburgh Park, refused to attend a previous hearing in July, when the matter was adjourned for 10 weeks due to delays in evidence.
Sako will next face court on October 5.
