(NECN: Scot Yount, Shrewsbury, Mass.) - "Very gruesome scene. A very tough scene; it's a very disturbing scene," said Worcester County District Attorney Joe Early.
Seventy-nine-year-old Jieming Liu appeared to be quite frail as he was brought to Westborough district court where he faced charges of first degree murder for allegedly killing his 73-year-old wife, Yuee Zhou.
It is hard to speak the words of what he is accused of.
According to the prosecutor, Liu was found eating his wife's flesh.
"The husband of the victim was found in the living room of the apartment, sitting in a rocking chair covered with blood and what appeared to be pieces of flesh and body about the floor," said Early.
The condition of the victim is very hard to hear.
"Found the victim face down in a rear bedroom with severe injuries to her left arm including but not limited to the separation of the arm below the elbow; the severed arm was missing most of its flesh. The upper arm, the bone was also exposed and that was missing flesh," said Early.
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"It would not surprise me given his condition that he would never be found competent," said Michael Hussey, a public defender.
Liu's attorney told reporters that he and his wife had been in the country from Hunan province in China just six months.
"Mr. Liu doesn't seem to have any recognition for what is going on here. He's completely befuddled; I don't even think that he has a good understanding that the police brought him here and for what reason," said Hussey.
The prosecution says Liu may suffer from dementia and Alzheimer's disease, no longer recognizing his own son who found the couple and called 911.
Neighbors are understandably upset.
"He would like wave to my daughter, play around with her. He never said anything; both of them they seemed very nice people," said Herlane Araujo, who lives next door.
Liu has been sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for an evaluation.
Zhou's body has been turned over the medical examiner's office to determine the cause of death.
Prosecutors wouldn't say if any weapons were found, or whether or not they believed Zhou died from the wounds they allege were inflicted by Mr. Liu.
(Worcester News Tonight Correspondent Melissa Toupin contributed to this report.)
