Nicolaos Malandris, 88, ‘unfit to enter’ pleas, charged with attempting to murder wife

An elderly man accused of trying to kill his wife is “not fit to enter pleas”, a court has heard.

An elderly dementia patient charged with the attempted murder of his wife will have his case heard in Supreme Court, but his lawyer says he isn’t fit to enter pleas.

In the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday morning, lawyer Trish Johnson said her client Nicolaos Malandris was not fit to answer his charges.

Mr Malandris, 88 of Wingfield, was arrested and charged with attempted murder and aggravated cause serious harm with intent after a domestic incident late last year.

Prosecutors have alleged he seriously injured the woman, 85, who was known to him, inside a home at Fourth St, Wingfield, in October 2024.

On Thursday, Ms Johnson told magistrate Brian Nitschke that her client had been excused from the hearing, but would not be entering a plea. “So he’s pleading not guilty?” Mr Nitschke asked.“He’s not fit to enter a plea,” Ms Johnson said.

Mr Nitschke recorded a plea of not guilty and adjourned the matter to the Supreme Court later this year.Mr Malandris first appeared in court following his arrest via phone from a hospital bed, and he has remained in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital ever since.

During a previous bail hearing, the court heard Mr Malandirs was a dementia patient, and if he was granted bail to the same hospital, he would pose a danger to the victim. Mr Malandris will next appear in court again in June.

‘Inappropriate’ bail request denied for 88yo on attempted murder charge

A dementia patient, 88, facing an attempted murder charge will not be bailed to a western suburbs public hospital – and his lawyer says the case is “destined for the Supreme Court”.

On Thursday, and after multiple hearings spanning several months, the Adelaide Magistrates Court rejected Nicolaos Malandris’ application for bail.

Mr Malandris’ lawyer, Vageli Dimou, had been advocating for his client to be moved to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woodville.

He said his client should not have to remain on supervised remand until the matter was resolved, saying “this is a matter destined for the Supreme Court”.

Prosecutors, however, said such a move would be “inappropriate” and potentially place other patients at risk – and Magistrate Brian Nitschke agreed.

“At this stage, I’m not prepared to grant bail … his present location, in my view, ensures his safety – which is an important consideration,” he said.

“Not only that, it also ensures the safety of the public and, indeed, the alleged victim.”

The Adelaide Magistrates Court has rejected Nicolaos Malandris’ bail application.

Mr Malandris, of Wingfield, has yet to plead to one count of attempted murder and one aggravated count of causing serious harm with intent.

Prosecutors have alleged he seriously injured the woman, 85, who was known to him, inside a home at Fourth St, Wingfield, in October 2024.

In November, Mr Dimou said Mr Malandris remain in secure care but given bail regardless as, by law, he could not receive his pension while in custody.

The lack of a pension, he argued, meant he could not be assessed and transferred to a facility appropriate for his health needs.

On Thursday, prosecutor Sarah Attar said Mr Malandris was also subject to a separate SACAT “level three inpatient order”, requiring he be held under medical supervision.

She said the legislative interaction between that order, Mr Malandris’ custodial status and any grant of bail was complicated and potentially contrary to the needs of the situation.

Mr Dimou argued there was “another course of action” and asked his client be bailed “to reside where directed”, but Mr Nitschke refused.

He remanded Mr Malandris in custody to face court again, and enter pleas to the charges, in April.