Suzanne Margaret Lupica, 75, a former nurse, has been charged with allegedly murdering Lilian Catherine Donnelly, 88, who was living with dementia.
The pair had only been sharing a room for four days when the alleged murder took place about 4.20am on Friday, 24 January, at Bethanie Waters Aged Care Home in Port Kennedy, 50km southwest of Perth.
Lupica hails from a wealthy South African tyre manufacturing family and migrated to Western Australia several decades ago with her two children following the breakdown of her first marriage. She appeared via audio link in Northbridge Magistrates Court on Australia Day from her hospital, where she was receiving treatment under police guard for heart and bowel conditions, The West Australian reported.
Magistrate Dianne Patricia Scanddan asked whether she understood the charge, Lupica replied “not really, because that isn’t how it was”.
Lilian Donnelly had been connected to Bethanie for several years. In 2020, her husband Jim began taking his wife, who had been diagnosed with dementia in 2019, to a support centre at Bethanie Waters Retirement Village three times a week to try and get her to participate in activities and socialise. She had only recently moved into Bethanie Waters Aged Care Home.
Lupica did not apply for bail, but Magistrate Scaddan said she could do so prior to the next hearing through a duty judge. The murder charge was adjourned for her to appear in the Stirling Gardens Supreme Court on 19 February.
Bethanie CEO Roule Jones said the Not For Profit organisation’s heartfelt condolences went to the family and loved ones of the deceased.
“Our staff responded quickly and professionally when the alarm was raised, and followed all Bethanie procedures," she said.
“The safety, wellbeing, and care of our residents remain our highest priority.”
