Italian pensioner held for mother-in-law's fatal stabbing

Nuoro (Italy), Aug 8 (IANS/AKI) A 69-year-old Alzheimer's sufferer was on Tuesday under armed guard at a hospital in central Sardinia, after he allegedly knifed to death his 87-year-old mother-in-law and stabbed his wife in the head and throat.

Antonio Fanni was also injured during the lunchtime attack on Monday at the apartment he shared with his mother-in-law Anna Melis and his 67-year-old wife Maria Melis in the village of Baunei near the city of Nuoro.

His wife is not critical and is expected to stay in hospital in the nearby town of Lanusei for two weeks, while Fanni will be discharged from the hospital in 10 days' time.

Police recovered a knife with a 16-centimetre-long blade from a patch of weeds outside his apartment building which they believe he used to attack Melis and her mother during an argument.

A judge was due to decide if Fanni can be held criminally responsible given his dementia diagnosis.

An autopsy was expected to be performed on the murder victim.

Fanni and Melis have five children.

--IANS/AKI

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