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WA aged care resident charged with alleged murder of roommate

A 75-year-old woman has been charged with the alleged murder of her roommate at a West Australian residential aged care facility.

Emergency services were called to the Bethanie Waters Aged Care Home in Port Kennedy, south of Perth, at around 4:20 am on Friday morning after Lilian Catherine Donnelly, 88, was found dead.

Mrs Donnelly was diagnosed with dementia in 2019 and had been living within the aged care village for more than four years, The West Australian reports.

Suzanne Margaret Lupica, a former nurse who had been Mrs Donnelly's roommate for four days, was arrested and charged with her murder.

Bethanie chief RoulƩ Jones issued a statement in which she expressed the community's sorrow over the incident.

ā€œOur heartfelt condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the deceased,ā€ Ms Jones said.

ā€œOur staff responded quickly and professionally when the alarm was raised, and followed all Bethanie procedures. We wish to reassure the public that no Bethanie staff were involved in this incident.ā€

Ms Lupica faced Northbridge Magistrates Court on Sunday via audio link from hospital and did not apply for bail.

The matter was adjourned until February 19.

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