Woman admits to killing elderly Melbourne dog walker

A woman who initially denied murdering an elderly woman walking her dog in suburban Melbourne has pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Amy Tran, 31, is accused of bashing 77-year-old Le Le in St Albans last year, causing severe head injuries to which Ms Le succumbed a few days later.

Ms Le was a "sincere and trusting" woman who is deeply missed, her daughter Thy Cht Trinh said in a victim impact statement read out to the Supreme Court.

"No words could possibly describe the impact this crime has done to our family. I've lost my mother and my children have lost their grandmother," Ms Trinh wrote.

"My biggest regret is that my youngest child didn't get a chance to see her grandmother, she was born two weeks after she died."

Ms Trinh said her mother's death has left her feeling fearful and unsafe.

"Ever since the incident I am paranoid about our safety ... I'm afraid to take my children for a walk ... I have difficulty sleeping at night."

 During the February 2018 attack, Tran hit Ms Le two or three times, prosecutor Mark Gibson SC said.

The court heard Tran and Ms Le were strangers and it was an "unprovoked and unnecessary" attack on a "vulnerable" person.

Tran has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was not taking medication at the time of the assault.

Defence barrister Glenn Casement said Tran had "an extensive history of mental health difficulties".

She was receiving psychiatric help and medication while in custody, but she was "still not free of her hallucinations", Mr Casement said.

Tran, who was not present in court today, will be sentenced tomorrow.

with AAP