Late Ruby Ann Laufa

The Waigani Committal Court found sufficient circumstantial evidence to commit him. 

The Waigani Committal Court went through statements of 18 witnesses including family, friends, investigating officers and medical reports.

Presiding Magistrate, Cosmos Bidar, said the statements and messages provided by witnesses showed that the late Ruby Laufa had an ongoing situation with the defendant Richard Namaliu.  

The spirit of the former Miss PNG was brought to life at the Miss Pacific islands Pageant (MPIP) project runway last night in Port Moresby.

For the first time since the announcement, fashion designer Yana Copeland showcased the Queen Ruby Collection on the runway.

 The 25 year old designer is one of late Ruby’s closest friends.

She said the collection was in honour and memory of her late friend.

“Ruby Ann was my inspiration to design this female elegance,” said Copeland.

Lead investigator and Officer in Charge for Accidents, Sgt Gabriel Kake, told Loop PNG that a letter was drafted and sent to National Information and Communications Technology Authority and Digicel to obtain phone records of the main suspect.

“However, we are still waiting for an approved response from both organisations that will allow for police to look into the phone records for any relatable evidence,” he said.

Traffic Police, Joe Joseph, says the challenge is when you only have a case resting on witness statements.

“We need hard evidence and it is hard to comprehend when there was no one to see and tell of the actual event that had taken place between the suspect and the victim.”

The families, friends and relatives of the Late Ruby are being urged to remain tolerant during this time.

Meanwhile, the suspect involved in the death of the former Miss PNG is yet to be charged as investigations continue.

According to the last report, a number of witnesses have come forward with reliable information into the case of the late Ruby Ann Laufa.

Director for traffic police, Joe Joseph, told Loop PNG that investigators have also spoken to family members, who have given in their statements.

He said although the case is building, the weight of the charge will still depend on the witness statements that have been collected.

Born years apart from each other and growing up, Sheridan described the relationship between her and her sister Ruby Ann as a very close one.

Sheridan spoke telling her side of how she had seen her sister in the past two years and how her sister had suddenly become so distant during that time until she met her fate.

“That was about the same time she met this guy, Richard Namaliu and for the last two years she had pulled away and become very distant,” Sheridan says.

She said she only got to know him (Richard) when he and Ruby were already in a relationship.