Rosa Maria Maione pleads guilty to the manslaughter of Annie Smith in neglect case that horrified the state
Rosa Maione, the so-called carer of Annie Smith, has pleaded guilty to her manslaughter in the disability neglect case that shocked the state.
SA News
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The former carer for Annie Smith, a woman with disabilities who was cruelly neglected in her final days of life, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
On Wednesday, after several delays and claims her matter was “at play behind the scenes”, Rosa Maria Maione admitted having unlawfully killed Ms Smith in April 2020.
Previously, police alleged Maione left Ms Smith confined to a chair, without nourishing food, for nearly a year while employed as her primary carer.
Although Maione was allowed to remain on bail, prosecutors warned they would seek to have her taken into custody when she faces the Supreme Court in September.
Maione has yet to offer any explanation for her crime – on Wednesday her lawyer, Stephen Ey, said his client would not be making public comment.
“We will say it all in the Supreme Court, thank you, no comment,” he said outside court.
Ms Smith’s only sibling, a younger brother, and her paternal uncle told The Advertiser they had been devastated at every point of the case.
“While nothing will ever make what happened to Annie go away, those who inflicted harm and ultimately caused the death of Annie need to be brought to justice,” Ms Smith’s brother said.
“The faster this happens, the better.”
He said his family were not made aware of the court proceedings on Wednesday until contacted by the media.
“This has been the case since the start of this awful process,” he said.
“We feel ignored in the process and would have preferred to be supplied with this information so we could support each other and be present if able.”
Manslaughter is considered the second-most serious crime under South Australian law and, like murder, carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Unlike murder, however, manslaughter has neither a mandatory minimum nor a “tariff” – a benchmark sentence set, by legal precedent, on which an offender’s punishment is based.
The offence has been used for crimes ranging from practical jokes gone wrong, with fatal consequences, to killings just shy of the legal definition of murder.
Maione, 69, was arrested following a painstaking investigation by a 17-strong Major Crime task force, dubbed “Giles”.
Ms Smith, 54, died in Royal Adelaide Hospital the day after Maione called an ambulance to her Kensington Park home.
She died from profound septic shock, multiple organ failure from severe pressure sores and malnutrition, having been admitted with severe ulcerated and infected tissue.
Police alleged Maione left Ms Smith living in a putrid, almost sedentary state – and without nourishing food – for most of a year.
Investigating police described her death as “tragic and most likely preventable”, saying she had been left in “disgusting and degrading” circumstances.
Previously, the court heard police were searching for $35,000 worth of custom jewellery and a large cash inheritance left to Ms Smith.
They were also investigating who took out $70,000 worth of loans in her name.
Ms Smith’s death was also examined by the disability royal commission and sparked a major state inquiry.
In May, Maione’s former employer – Integrity Care SA – blocked the ongoing investigation by claiming legal professional privilege over all material seized from its offices.
Last week its director, Amy June Collins, was banned for life from working in the disability services industry.
Counsel for Maione last week asked her case be delayed saying “matters are at play behind the scenes” – drawing the ire of Magistrate David McLeod.
He warned that, if a plea was not entered, he would review the evidence and determine the future of the case himself.
On Wednesday, Mr Ey offered to enter a plea for Maione on her behalf, but Mr McLeod declined.
Asked if she had unlawfully killed Ms Smith, Maione – standing in the court dock – lowered her head and said “guilty”.
Mr McLeod asked if Maione’s bail should be revoked, but prosecutors said they were content for her to remain under strict home detention conditions for now.
“There’s no application to revoke her bail at this stage,” they said.
“There have been conversations with defence counsel, who are aware that application is likely to be made on the next occasion.”
Mr McLeod ordered Maione face the Supreme Court in September, when a date will be set for sentencing submissions.
Outside court, Adelaide disability advocate Katherine Annear said Maoine’s plea represented “long-awaited progression” in the case.
“Justice for Ann Marie should be the central focus and this includes addressing serious criminal and industrial issues at play in this case and in the NDIS provider space in general,” she said.
Opposition human services spokeswoman Nat Cook said the plea would hopefully signal movement of justice for Ms Smith progressed without further delay or impediment.
“This case is important so as to set a firm agenda in place. A line must be drawn, we must ensure all citizens are safe and well, without threat or fear,” she said.
Originally published as Rosa Maria Maione pleads guilty to the manslaughter of Annie Smith in neglect case that horrified the state
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