Resident charged with manslaughter to remain in aged care
An 84-year-old aged care resident living with dementia charged with manslaughter has been allowed to remain at his Brisbane aged care home as his case proceeds through the court.
Thomas Pryce, an 84-year-old resident of Regis Aspley, 16km north of the Brisbane CBD, has been charged with manslaughter after he allegedly pushed a 78-year-old fellow resident during an altercation on 21 February 2026. The resident sustained a life-threatening head injury and died in hospital two days later.
Pryce has advanced Alzheimer’s Disease and requires around-the-clock care at Regis Aspley, where he lives in a secure, locked dementia ward. Pryce has been a resident since August 2025, and prior to that he was in hospital.
Application to be released without bail
Last week, Pryce’s solicitor, Joshua Tiffin, applied for Pryce to be released without bail into the care of a support person under a section of Queensland’s bail legislation that relates to defendants with an impairment of the mind.
The application was adjourned to Wednesday 1 April last Thursday (26 March) after Pryce did not appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court.
Acting Magistrate John Costanzo said he could not grant the application as he had not received an affidavit from his aged care provider or consent for him to live there.
Application granted
On Wednesday (1 April), police prosecutor Sergeant Matthew Bach said police did not oppose the application. “It’s entirely appropriate in the circumstances,” he told the court.
Magistrate Andrew Moloney granted the application, accepting Mr Pryce had a “substantial reduction” of his “capacity, communication and social interaction” due to his dementia.
“I’m satisfied he has an impairment of the mind which is attributable to cognitive and neurological impairment or a combination of those,” he said. “What I intend to do is release him into the care of his current carers at the Regis Aspley aged care facility.”
An arrest warrant issued last week but postponed until the conclusion of the hearing, was recalled and cancelled.
The matter will return to court on 27 April 2026.
Regis Aspley has 119 beds, and according to its website “is suited to varying levels of care, including dementia specific, palliative and respite”.
