Husband arrested over death of 85-year-old woman in Adelaide's west

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Police are investigating the death of an 85-year-old woman whose body was found inside her home in Adelaide's west last night. Her elderly husband has been arrested and is expected to be charged over her death.

Transcript

00:00 Maria De Masi loved to cook and spent much of her time sharing traditional Italian recipes

00:07 with others. She volunteered at her grandson's kitchen, known as Cucina, making home-cooked

00:15 meals for the aged and people with disabilities. Premier Peter Malinowskis, today remembering

00:21 the 85-year-old as a generous, warm individual.

00:24 On a personal level, Maria De Masi was a very significant contributor to our state, particularly

00:30 in the western suburbs of the Italian community.

00:33 Police found Maria's body in the Finden home she shared with her 91-year-old husband. He

00:38 was later arrested. Neighbours say they were woken up by police officers keen to find answers.

00:45 I didn't see anything but I asked him what happened. He said, "Something wrong happened

00:50 next door." The neighbours are very nice. I met them every single morning when he walks

00:55 in the morning. He's a very nice people.

00:57 Little is known about the circumstances surrounding Maria De Masi's death as a police investigation

01:03 begins. Four women died across South Australia in just one week in November in alleged domestic

01:09 homicides. Calls for the state government to launch a royal commission into domestic

01:14 and family violence are growing.

01:17 Women have had enough. Our children have had enough. And decent men in this country are

01:24 sick of it too. It needs to change.

01:27 A meeting involving the Premier, ministers and sections of the community will be held

01:32 in a few weeks' time.

01:33 I haven't ruled out a royal commission. I just want to make sure that whatever we decide

01:38 to do gets us the speediest resolution and the right outcome to make a difference on

01:44 the ground as quickly as possible.

01:45 The government is also working on new laws to tackle domestic violence.

01:50 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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