Fresh heartbreak for grieving family of glamorous young mother, 26, found dead in her home a week after allegedly being murdered by her boyfriend

The mother of alleged murder victim Ellie Price has hit out at thieves who raided her grave just days before Christmas.  

Tracey Gangell discovered her daughter's grave site had been targeted when she noticed the water drum used to hold flowers at the cemetery was missing. 

Ms Price, 26, was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend, Ricardo Barbaro, 33, in the early hours of April 29 last year at her South Melbourne home. 

Ms Gangell made a plea online for the water drum to be returned to the site. 

Ellie Price was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend, Ricardo Barbaro in April last year 

Mother of Ellie Price urged for the water drum from Ms Price's grave to be returned 

'We had a small water drum of our own at Ellie's grave filled with water so we can always keep her flowers fresh and nice,' she wrote on Facebook.

'The other day when I was visiting her grave at the Anglican Cemetery in Sorell I noticed someone has taken the water drum.

'We would really appreciate it if it could be returned as its for my daughters flowers on her grave.'   

Ms Price, who was stabbed to death, has been described by her mother as having a 'heart of gold'. 

'She was a beautiful, bubbly girl who loved life, lived to the fullest, and every day she made it count', Ms Gangell said at her daughter's funeral early last year. 

The beauty diploma student has left behind a four-year old son, Mostafa Price.

He was the subject of a fundraiser this year that hopes to start a trust fund in his name.

Barbaro was eventually arrested at a Sydney unit after a 10-day interstate manhunt and charged with murdering Ms Price some time between April 29 and May 4. 

Ellie Price was described by her mother (pictured, top right) as having a 'heart of gold' 

 He was shortly afterwards extradited from NSW to Victoria to face court.

At a hearing in October, the Melbourne Magistrates Court was told Barbaro told his GP he was having 'relationship problems' in an appointment on April 28.

He said he was living with someone and there had been an argument but did not mention any names, Barbaro's GP Dr Reda Makarious told the court.

The doctor said Barbaro also mentioned he was having financial problems. He was seeing a drug counsellor, sometimes 'heard noises' and was taking Viagra.

Barbaro requested a mental health care plan, which provides rebates for psychological treatment.

A week later in October, the Melbourne Magistrates Court heard Ms Price could have been killed by someone else.

Barbaro's lawyer Mark Gumbleton told the court the glamorous 26-year-old beauty diploma student could have been knifed in the back and neck by an 'alternative offender'.

Mr Gumbleton said there was evidence Ms Price had blackmailed the man by threatening she would go to police and say he had raped her if he refused to pay her $25,000.

Ricardo Barbaro , 33, is accused of murdering his girlfriend Ellie Price

'This is a woman who had mental health issues, abused illicit substances, was a loner, and was also erratic in her behaviour,' Mr Gumbleton told the court.

CCTV footage captured Mr Barbaro leaving Ms Price's apartment about 4.30am on April 29 but Mr Gumbleton said there was still enough time for another person to enter the apartment.

The court heard that a 57-year-old accountant friend of Ms Price may have had a motive to kill her.

The court granted Mr Gumbleton permission to cross-examine Ms Price's mother and sister at a committal hearing in May.

The court heard Mr Gumbleton plans to question them about 'the sort of work the deceased was engaged in' and 'what she was getting up to' in Melbourne while her family were caring for her young son in Tasmania.

Also set to take the stand at the hearing is Mr Barbaro's father, Giuseppe Barbaro, who will be asked to give evidence regarding the behaviour and injuries of his son in the days following the alleged murder.

Another witness is expected to be a toxicologist who may be able to shed light on any substances found in Mr Price's bloodstream and when they were ingested.

The results of these findings could provide further evidence regarding the exact time of death.

The court heard items found at the scene, including a knife which is believed to be the murder weapon, are still being examined for DNA and other forensic evidence.