Husband found unfit to stand trial over 'evil' deadly stabbing of wife

The family of a beloved Adelaide grandmother who was stabbed to death by her husband has been left unable to "forgive the evil act that took place".

Maria Dimasi, known affectionately as Nonna Maria, was found stabbed 76 times in December 2023.

Her husband, Francesco Dimasi, will never stand trial for murder because of his severe dementia, despite the judge agreeing he caused her death beyond a reasonable doubt.

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A judge ruled her 93-year-old husband was mentally competent when he stabbed his wife of 67 years to death inside their home at Findon in the city's western suburbs, and that the attack was not the result of dementia, which he was later diagnosed with.

"I guess that reinforced what we thought had happened," Maria's son Vince Dimasi told 9News.

He said the family "can't forgive the evil act that took place".

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Maria's daughter Carmel Ieraci said the family feels "some sort of peace in knowing that the truth has prevailed".

"Our lives will never be the same and neither will the state and all who knew Maria Dimasi," she said.

"She was incredible, absolutely incredible, she just had a heart of gold."

While the family did not want to speak specifically about their case, they said there needs to be more awareness around domestic violence because of the prevalence in which it's being perpetrated.

The case will return for one final hearing in April.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).