Pacific / Papua New Guinea

PNG man jailed for 15 years for manslaughter

20:10 pm on 18 September 2020

A Papua New Guinea man who caused the death of his girlfriend by assaulting her has been jailed for 15 years.

Richard Namaliu of East New Britain was convicted of manslaughter for causing the death of Ruby-Anne Laufa. Photo: EMTV

Richard Namaliu of East New Britain was convicted of manslaughter for causing the death of Ruby-Anne Laufa, a former Miss PNG, in early 2017.

Namaliu had punched his partner, forcing her to jump out of the car he was driving, resulting in her death.

Justice Teresa Berrigan said it was yet another case in PNG where a woman died at the hands of a current or former boyfriend, someone she should have been able to trust.

Justice Berrigan called it an unprovoked and cowardly attack.

The newspaper The National reports that the court was also told that Namaliu and his family had apologised to Laufa's family and offered compensation which was rejected.

Namaliu will be remanded at an isolation facility inside Bomana Prison for at least two weeks before being transferred to the main compound, subject to medical assessment.