Husband charged with murder after beloved great-grandma found dead
Adelaide great-grandmother Maria Dimasi is being remembered for her talent in the kitchen and her love for her community.
A 91-year-old great-grandfather has been charged with murder after his 85-year-old wife, a "well-known neighbourhood matriarch", was found dead inside the couple's home over the weekend.
Maria Dimasi's body was found inside her Adelaide home in Findon, in the city's west, just after 11.20pm on Saturday. The woman was allegedly found with multiple stab wounds when officers arrived at the property, which the couple had lived in for six decades, The Adelaide Advertiser reported.
Her husband Frank, who is understood to suffer from a "neurological disability", was arrested at the scene. Officers confirmed to Yahoo News Australia on Monday the elderly man has been charged with the murder of his wife of over 50 years.
Maria Dimasi was a much-loved member of her community
Mr Dimasi is under police guard at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, having suffered from self-inflicted and non-life threatening wounds.
Maria was a much-loved and well-known member of Adelaide's tight-knit Italian community and was heavily involved with the family's taxpayer-funded meal service Nonna’s Cucina.
Paying tribute, South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas branded the alleged murder as "tragic" and spoke of Maria's "amazing work" for people in need.
“On a personal level, Maria Dimasi was a very significant contributor to our state, particularly in the western suburbs’ Italian community,” said the premier, who is facing mounting pressure to authorise a Royal Commission into domestic violence in the state.
“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.”
Tributes mount for 'matriarch'
As media met Maria's family outside of their Findon home, many were too distressed to speak publicly.
She was known for her love of the kitchen, and had in the past been photographed with celebrity chefs including Maggie Beer. The great-grandmother was regarded as the neighbourhood “matriarch”, beloved in her community, whom loved-ones described as a "talented and passionate cook always keen to share her Italian recipes".
Health Minister Mark Butler described Maria as "extremely generous".
“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.”
Ms Dimasi's death comes as loved-ones reported her to be "in good health", with the grandmother regularly seen riding a scooter along her street.
Five women have allegedly been killed at the hands of a partner since November 16 in South Australia, which has been labelled "the worst DV toll in Australia's history" — according to The Advertiser.
Mr Malinauskas said the SA government will host an “important roundtable with a whole range of experts in the sector and government” before Christmas.
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