Ellie Price’s killer Ricardo Barbaro allowed to keep post-mortem images of naked victim while behind bars

The man who brutally murdered Victorian mum Ellie Price has been allowed to keep explicit post-mortem images of his naked victim while he is in jail.

Price’s body was discovered in her South Melbourne home on May 4, 2020, by police carrying out a welfare check on the 26-year-old after she failed to answer calls from family interstate.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Murderer’s shocking prison possession devastates victim’s family.

Her boyfriend Ricardo Barbaro was found guilty of murder in September 2023, having stabbed her six times - including a fatal 8cm slash across her neck.

Now, in a new development, Price’s mother Tracey Gangell has been informed Barbaro had been obsessing over naked scene photos of his victim while in his cell.

“It’s just heartbreaking enough now and just going through hearing this just makes me feel sick,” she told 7NEWS.

Barbaro was given the photos as part of the brief of evidence provided to him during the trial.

Prison sources told 7NEWS the killer had been caught performing multiple lewd acts inside his HM Prison Barwon cell.

It is understood guards at the facility have reported the vile act, even though he is legally allowed to have the documents.

“Unfortunately the justice system dictates that an accused person is entitled to see every piece of evidence that is going to be put against them at a trial,” former homicide detective Charlie Bezzina said.

It is another kick in the guts for the mother’s family who have been waiting for justice since 2020.

“It’s been over four years now and we are still getting blow after blow, kicks in the guts,” Gangell said.

Barbaro faced the Supreme Court earlier this week and showed no emotion as victim impact statements were read.

He is likely to be sentenced in November.