Ruby-Anne Laufa

The man who was charged over her killing, Richard Jason Namaliu, of Kokopo, East New Britain Province, was indicted in court this morning to one count of manslaughter over the death of Laufa of Lese, Malalaua, Gulf Province, along the Fort Banner Road, UPNG, on February 11, 2017.

Three witnesses were called in by the state this morning.

All three told the court they saw the late Laufa and Namaliu travelling in a grey Honda CRV at ‘high speed’, at the Fort Banner housing estate of UPNG on the morning of 11 February 2017.

Director for Police Traffic, Joe Joseph told Loop PNG that the big challenge with the case is that it is only built around the witness statements from those who had seen what happened before and after the incident.

Family, close friends, colleagues and the public were present to pay their last respect to the late Ruby Ann Laufa.

Her sister, Sherridan Laufa took to the podium to give her sister’s eulogy to the congregation.

A line of tributes were given by some of her close friends from the University of Papua Nrew Guinea, the Legal Training Institute, the Pageant, colleagues and friends.

Present also to pay their last respect was former Miss South Pacific Queen, Abigail Havora and the Patron of Miss Pacific Islands Pageant PNG, Lynda Babao O’Neill.