Francesco Dimasi, 93, murdered his wife by stabbing her 76 times at their home in Adelaide while “mentally competent” a court ruled but he now has vascular dementia
A man who stabbed his wife 76 times in a brutal murder will never stand trial as he now suffers from severe dementia.
The family of Maria Dimasi, a grandmother from Adelaide, Australia, said that they will never “forgive the evil act that took place”. A judge reportedly agreed that her husband Francesco Dimasi, 93, caused the death beyond reasonable doubt.
Dimasi was charged with the murder of his 85-year-old wife Maria who was found dead at their Findon home in December 2023. South Australia’s District Court ruled that he unlawfully “caused the death of his wife”. Maria’s son Vince Dimasi told 9News: “I guess that reinforced what we thought had happened.” He added: “Our mother did so much, not only for our family but for her husband. We grieve our mother immensely.”
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And the victim’s daughter Reverend Carmel Ieraci said there was some “peace” from now knowing what happened. “We feel some sort of peace in knowing that the truth has prevailed,” she told ABC News. “Part of the grief process is anger, and that’s a natural progression and step that we have all endured.”
She added: “Our lives will never be the same and neither will the state and all who knew Maria Dimasi, She was incredible, absolutely incredible, she just had a heart of gold.”
Her mother was a volunteer at the meal service Nonna Cucina and Ms Ieraci added: “She touched everyone’s life with love and gentleness, humour, smiles, care and, of course, her nourishing food,” she said. “There are moments of severe grief and trauma but [our family is] — for mum’s sake — continuing forward.”
Justice Sandi McDonald reportedly told the court that a psychiatrist believed that Dimasi “was mentally competent to commit the offence” and that the defendant had accepted written statements by the prosecution. “Mr Dimasi stabbed his wife using a knife that was seized by the police, and in doing so, caused her death,” said Justice McDonald.
But a psychiatric report that had since been made diagnosed Dimasi with vascular dementia and that most of his responses had been “unintelligible”. And on that basis the court found that he was not fit to stand trial. “Mr Dimasi is mentally unfit to stand trial,” Justice McDonald ruled. “Having made that finding, I’m required to find that Mr Dimasi is not guilty of the offence of murder.” Dimasi, though, will remain under supervision for the rest of his life.
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk . If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk .