Former carer Rosemary Maione bailed over alleged manslaughter of Ann Marie Smith, still allowed to babysit infant granddaughter
The former carer accused of leaving Annie Smith to die in squalid conditions has been released on bail and banned from working – but is allowed to babysit her own infant grandchild.
Police & Courts
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Former carer and alleged killer Rosemary Maione will be released from prison on bail on Thursday – and is allowed to continue babysitting her infant grandchild once she is home.
On Thursday, the Adelaide Magistrates Court permitted Maione to live at Hectorville on strict home detention bail, and ordered she be electronically monitored at all times.
Stephen Ey, for Maione, said his client had agreed to surrender her Italian passport, promised not to seek an Australian passport and would no longer work as a carer.
“Where she is going to live, she has her granddaughter there, aged six months,” he said.
“She will not be working as a carer but she may babysit – and we don’t want there to be any misunderstanding about that which leads to a breach of bail.”
Prosecutor Sandi McDonald SC told the court she did not seek to have babysitting excluded from Maione’s bail conditions.
Maione, 69, has yet to plead to one count of manslaughter filed following a painstaking investigation by a 17-strong Major Crime task force, dubbed “Giles”.
Ms Smith, 54, died in Royal Adelaide Hospital on April 6, the day after Ms Maione called an ambulance to Ms Smith’s Kensington Park home.
It is alleged Maione left Ms Smith living in a putrid, almost sedentary state – and without nourishing food – for most of a year.
SA Police are still searching for $35,000 worth of custom jewellery and a large cash inheritance left to Ms Smith.
They are also investigating who took out $70,000 worth of loans in her name.
Last week, Maione’s counsel complained police were “grandstanding to the max” when they arrested their “co-operative” client.
Maione was granted bail on the condition her address was found suitable for home detention monitoring.
On Thursday, Maione listened via video link with the Adelaide Womens’ Prison as Magistrate John Fahey said a report had confirmed the address was suitable.
He released her on $2000 bail, warning she must strictly abide by his conditions.
“Home detention bail is also known as ‘the bail of last resort’,” he told her.
“You are not to work as a carer, you are to surrender your Italian passport to the court registry and you are not to apply for an Australian passport.
“Bail contains many, many conditions – I suggest to you that you should read your paperwork very, very carefully.”
He ordered she face court again in April next year.
