His wife’s alleged killer, Francesco Dimasi, has been ordered to stand trial even as he battles dementia and his lawyer acknowledges the elderly man probably does not understand what is happening to him.
Police have charged Dimasi, 92, with stabbing his wife Maria Dimasi, 85, to death in Adelaide in December last year.
He has been diagnosed with dementia and is currently receiving care at a medical facility under the supervision of Department of Corrections officers.
At a hearing in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal granted Mr Dimasi bail to continue receiving care at the facility free from the watchful eye of prison officers.
The court heard that the facility employs three security guards who rush to assist nursing staff in any “code black” cases of violence against a patient.
Trish Johnson, appearing for Mr Dimasi, has asked for her client to be moved to a residential care facility, but Ms Hribal expressed caution about moving Mr Dimasi from his current facility and ordered a report into the suitability of a new aged care home for the man.
“Where a placement is available in a residential aged care facility, the South African Correctional Health Service and Forensic Mental Health should assess its suitability… and advise the court on security arrangements,” he said.
The court heard Mr Dimasi had “grabbed” the arms of nursing staff and nurses needed an officer to help them check on Mr Dimasi once or twice a week.
Frank Dimasi, 91, has been sentenced to stand trial for the alleged stabbing murder of his wife Maria Dimasi, 85 (both pictured).
Ms Johnson told the court Mr Dimasi is bedridden and “dependent on others for everything” and his risk to the safety of others is no greater than that of any other dementia patient.
Mr Dimasi did not plead guilty to the murder charge against him and Ms Hribal referred the matter to the Supreme Court for arraignment and trial to begin on 30 September 2024.
At his first appearance in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court shortly after the alleged murder, Mr Dimasi spoke in a frail, soft voice.
An Italian interpreter was present in court and translated the hearing before Judge Jayanthi Pandya.
At one point, Mr. Dimasi spoke to the interpreter and was told: “non capito,” which means “I don’t understand” in Italian.
The interpreter told Ms Pandya at another point in the hearing that she had difficulty understanding Mr Dimasi.
Police allege Dimasi, 91, stabbed his wife Maria Dimasi, 85 (pictured), to death in Adelaide in December last year.
“Sometimes it’s not very clear what he says,” the interpreter said.
The alleged murder occurred on the morning of December 2 at the home of the 60-year-old couple in Findon, in the west of the city.
Mr Dimasi had dialled triple-zero after the alleged murder and said he had killed his wife, the court heard.
Police officers arrived at the scene within six minutes and found Mr Dimasi sitting in the kitchen with blood on his clothes, arms and hands.
Officers searched the home and found Ms. Dimasi with significant injuries to her head and upper body.
As police spoke to Mr Dimasi, the court was told that the elderly man was slipping in and out of consciousness.