Dec 11, 2023

Court orders reports on accused older murderer’s cognition, bail considerations

Untitled design - 2023-12-11T110235.815
Frank Dimasi with his wife Maria who he is accused of murdering in their Adelaide home. [Source: Nine News]

An Adelaide Magistrate’s Court has ordered reports be provided to them to determine the severity of accused murderer Frank Dimasi’s dementia condition and whether he is suitable to be released on bail.

Appearing in court for the first time via video link from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he is being held under police guard, Mr Dimasi, 91, is accused of killing his wife Maria Dimasi, who was also called ‘Nonna Maria’ by the local community, inside their Adelaide home earlier this month.

At the initial hearing last week, Mr Dimasi was not present, with his defence counsel claiming he had been unconscious for most of the day. Mr Dimasi’s counsel said his client has dementia so the court has ordered a report to determine the severity of his condition and if there is any risk to the community if he was out on bail. 

At last week’s initial hearing, police alleged the body of Mrs Dimasi, 85, was found at the couple’s Findon home after Mr Dimasi called triple-0 on the night of December 2. Police allege he admitted to arguing with his wife and then subsequently killed her after being found intoxicated and covered in blood.

Untitled design - 2023-12-04T100914.808
Maria Dimasi was well-known in Adelaide’s Italian community for her cooking, including volunteering efforts at the family’s community meal service Nonna’s Cucina. [Source: Facebook]

“[Mr Dimasi] said he was sorry that he killed his wife and that she deserved it,” a police prosecutor told the court.

“At the time of the incident, his blood alcohol was […] more than four times the legal limit.”

Last week, the Dimasi family released a statement describing their Nonna Maria as a “caring” and “wonderful woman” who was “loved by many” and asked for privacy while they grieve.

“We will always remember Maria for her warmth, caring nature, compassion and her beautiful smile,” they said.

“Maria enjoyed sharing her passion for cooking, including teaching others and through her voluntary contribution at Nonna’s Cucina.”

Mr Dimasi will return to court in January. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Australian aged care home pays $22 million in rent to Greek Orthodox Church – despite receiving taxpayer dollars

Meanwhile, the new Greek Orthodox Archbishop has been seen living life large in a luxurious $6.5 million harbour-view Sydney apartment, while aged care homes being overseen by him are reporting huge operating losses. What are your thoughts? Read More

Depression and dementia in the age of COVID-19: Two sides, one coin

A typical case that I often see in my practice is as follows: A 76-year-old woman has a two-year history of progressive worsening of short-term memory and cognitive decline. She can’t recall the names of her grandchildren and is devastated by her deteriorating abilities. However, this is not the first time in her life that she has had feelings of loss and despair. Over the past 30 years, she has intermittently struggled with depression and anxiety. Read More

Recognising the Signs of Lewy Body Dementia

Dementia is not one condition – it’s an umbrella term for hundreds of conditions that can affect a person’s cognitive abilities, such as memory and thinking. While the most common kind of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease – which many people know of – the second most common dementia is Lewy body dementia. Despite being relatively... Read More
Advertisement