Frank Dimasi, accused of murdering wife Maria in bloody attack at Findon, will be unfit for trial, court told

An elderly man who allegedly murdered his wife in a frenzied attack at their Findon home is unfit to face a trial, a court has heard.

Alleged murder victim Maria ‘Nonna’ Dimasi with her grandson Stefan Dimasi. Photo: Facebook

An elderly man accused of murdering his wife – a beloved matriarch of SA’s Italian community – and later telling police she deserved it will be “unfit to stand trial”, a court has heard.

Francesco ‘Frank’ Dimasi, 92 , of Findon, appeared at the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where it heard he had cognitive issues and was also deteriorating physically. It has previously heard he has dementia.

Lawyer Trish Johnson, for Mr Dimasi, asked her client be excused from Tuesday’s hearing due to his deteriorating health.

“My client is probably unfit to stand trial,” she said.

“There are existing cognitive issues and in addition deteriorating physical health, which is leading to further cognitive issues. He’s only going to deteriorate.”

Mr Dimasi is charged with one count of murder over the stabbing death of his wife Maria Dimasi, who was well-known throughout the state’s Italian community, on December 2, 2023.

A police prosecutor previously told the court Mr Dimasi called triple-0 on that day after allegedly killing his wife, with police claiming he told them the couple had an argument at 5.30pm.

He was arrested that night about 11.20pm at the couple’s Findon home after police found Mrs Dimasi’s body.

“The allegation is that the defendant has allegedly phoned triple-0 saying he has killed his wife,” he said.

Frank Dimasi, who is charged with the murder of his wife Maria Dimasi, left. Picture: 9News

“Six minutes later police arrived … they find him seated at the kitchen table with blood on his clothing, arms and hands and a kitchen-style knife located near the accused.

“They searched and located the deceased with significant wounds to the head, upper body and legs.

“(There was a) significant amount of blood in the room and around the body.”

The police prosecutor said it would be alleged that Mr Dimasi was “clearly inebriated at the time of his arrest”.

Flowers left outside the Findon home of alleged murder victim Maria Dimasi. Picture: Zayda Dollie

Alleged murder victim Maria ‘Nonna’ Dimasi with grandson Stefan Dimasi. Photo: Facebook

“He said he was sorry that he killed his wife and that she deserved it,” he said.

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

Prosecution asked for a two-month adjournment for an answer charge date as they await Ms Dimasi’s post-mortem results.

Ms Johnson said Corrective Services have told her it does not have the means to care for Mr Dimasi and his health issues so he will not be moved to a prison despite the removal of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act’s Section 269x conditions – which state a defendant is mentally unwell to stand trial.

“He’s too unwell for them to look after him … he cannot be transferred to a prison,” she said.

Mr Dimasi was remanded in custody and will remain at secure mental health facility James Nash House.

Mr Dimasi’s matter will next be heard in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in June.