Maria Dimasi allegedly murdered in Findon home after claims frail husband became angry over marriage

A great-grandmother was allegedly killed in her home of six decades after claims her frail husband became angry over the state of their marriage.

An Adelaide great-grandmother was allegedly murdered in her western suburbs home of six decades at the weekend amid claims her frail husband became angry at the state of their marriage.

In the sixth alleged domestic-related killing in South Australia in the past 18 days, Maria Dimasi, 85, was believed to be stabbed multiple times at her home on Thornton St, Findon, on Saturday night.

Her husband Frank, 91, who is believed to suffer from a neurological disability, was arrested at their property after police were called to “reports of an incident” at 11.20pm.

Officers found Mrs Dimasi’s body inside their home, which was built in 1963.

Western Districts CIB detectives, with Major Crime assistance, are preparing to charge the husband with murder on Monday amid claims he was unhappy in their marriage of more than 50 years.

Murder victim Maria ‘Nonna’ Dimasi.

Police outside the Findon home where Mrs Dimasi was found dead. Picture: Ben Clark

Mr Dimasi, a great-grandfather, is in a stable condition in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, under police guard, after suffering non-life-threatening, self-inflicted injuries.

The couple’s family, who own the taxpayer-funded community meal service Nonna’s Cucina, were too distressed to speak publicly as friends and relatives comforted them at an eastern suburbs property. Her grandson also declined to speak as he visited the couple’s home on Sunday afternoon.

A deep-clean van was called to the home as forensic officers searched the property.

Friends and neighbours paid tribute to Mrs Dimasi, who doted and was incredibly proud of her three children, her grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

She was also a well-known Italian identity and beloved cook, who was often seen using a scooter along her street and was said to be in good health.

Her husband was described as frail, who appeared to be suffering from early onset dementia, but was known to walk from the couple’s brick home to the corner and back.

Premier Peter Malinauskas, who also paid tribute to Mrs Dimasi, is under intense pressure from campaigners and opposition MPs to authorise a royal commission into the states’s domestic violence scourge.

Maria Dimasi’s home for decades, where she was killed. Picture: Ben Clark

Police outside the Findon home. Picture: Ben Clark

“On a personal level, Maria Dimasi was a very significant contributor to our state, particularly in the western suburbs’ Italian community,” the Premier said on Sunday.

“Nonna’s Cucina, which will be very well-known to a lot of South Australians, did amazing work delivering meals to people that are vulnerable, particularly the elderly. This is a good person who has lost their life in tragic circumstances.”

Federal health minister, the Labor MP for Hindmarsh, Mark Butler praised her dedication to the not-for-profit organisation.

“Maria lit up the kitchen at Nonna’s Cucina,” he said. “She was always extremely generous and made sure no one ever left her company hungry.

“Maria gave so much to her community and will be greatly missed by her loved ones and everyone who had the pleasure to meet her.”

She was photographed with well-known chefs including Maggie Beer, who declined to comment.

Mrs Dimasi was regarded as a neighbourhood “matriarch”, beloved in her community, who friends described as a talented and passionate cook keen to share her “delicious” Italian recipes.

In a grandmotherly way, she would also attend local children’s birthday parties, they added.

She also volunteered at her grandson’s kitchen, Nonna Cucina, which provides meals to the aged, people with disabilities and those who are convalescing or recovering from an illness or medical treatment.

Neighbours painted a picture of a happy couple living for decades in the home they built together in a quiet street where they were well-known.

There was often a throng of children and grandchildren at the home, some said.

Long-time friend Frank Tripoli, who moved to Australia when he was 11, remembers the Dimasi home in the 1970s being one of the first in what has since grown to be a quiet, family-oriented part of Findon.

He knew the couple for more than 60 years, from when the couple lived in their brick home.

“He was a good man, very good man,” he said. “She was a lovely woman. I couldn’t believe it.”

Another friend said the couple were “really close neighbours”.

Murder victim Maria ‘Nonna’ Dimasi, left, with chef Maggie Beer and grandson Stefan Dimasi. Photo: facebook

“We had some parties together and it’s just a shock for us last night,” another said.

“I can say they are very good neighbours. I think they were a happy couple.” He said Mrs Dimasi was teaching his wife how to cook Italian cuisine.

“It was like she was going to pass the recipes to her,” he said.

Another said she appeared “quite fit”, while “he was always helpful and always had chats here at the front”.

A bastion of giving back, Mrs Dimasi volunteered her time and cooking expertise at Nonna’s Cucina, a community-based meal service where her grandson is an executive chef.

In a 2021 interview, Mrs Dimasi’s grandson Stefan said the matriarch would every Monday help him cook and “make biscuits” which had “given the kitchen a great vibe”.

In a horror few weeks, five women have been slain across SA, allegedly at the hands of a partner, since November 16, in what campaigners say is the worst DV toll in Australia’s history. Major Crime detectives are also investigating a murder-suicide of a grandfather and his son at Glenelg North.

The bodies of women were discovered on November 15 at Felixstow, November 16 near Port Augusta, November 19 in Morphett Vale and November 21 in Modbury North. Mrs Dimasi was the fifth.

Mr Malinauskas said the government will host an “important roundtable with a whole range of experts in the sector and government” before Christmas.