www.vicnews.com • A9
VICTORIA NEWS - Friday, August 3, 2012
NEW – FREE HOME OWNER WORKSHOP! LEARN STRATEGIES & TOOLS
New trial is denied for convicted murderer Judge rejects legal arguments in murdered husband case Edward Hill News staff
Ruby Ann Ruffolo has been denied a new trial and stands convicted of first-degree murder in the death of her husband nine years ago in Saanich. In a written ruling released last week, B.C. Court of Appeal Justice Lance Finch dismissed Ruffolo’s main argument that her second lawyer on her second trial was “ineffective” because he failed to question her daughter Jovanna Ruffolo on the daughter’s whereabouts on the night John Ruffolo was killed. In the appeal court ruling, Finch dismissed an affidavit from Jovanna sworn in March this year that suggested she was at home the night of the murder and that she didn’t hear or see anything out of the ordinary. On Nov. 18, 2010, Ruffolo was
convicted of killing her husband John Ruffolo by giving him a protein shake laced with the drug amtripyline followed by a lethal dose of heroin on Oct. 19, 2003, at their Tulip Avenue home. A few days later, his body was found in a ditch on Humpback Road in Langford. In his written ruling, Finch doubted Jovanna’s recollection of events were better now than in 2004 at age 13 or 14, when she told police she wasn’t sure if she was home the night of Oct. 19, 2003. Ruffolo also argued that her lawyer Greg DelBigio failed to cross examine Jovanna on the daughter’s whereabouts the night of the murder, going against Ruffolo’s wishes at her second trial. The justice noted that Ruffolo didn’t raise this issue until March this year, and had ample chances to do so during her trial. Justice Finch also pointed out Rufollo’s suggestion her daughter was home contradicted her earlier rather detailed notes that Jovanna had spent the night at a
TO SAVE YOU TIME & MONEY WHEN BUYING OR SELLING YOUR HOME
Find Out About: Different types of home loans title insurance • inspections negotiations • mortgages rebates • closing costs Five area professionals have teamed up to ensure your home purchase or sale is financially sound and problem free.
Monday, August 13th 7pm - 9pm
Limited Seating Call today to register
www.southislandhomesales.com • 250-858-7716 BEST PRICE | BEST QUALITY | BEST SERVICE
Honey Maple Solidwood Kitchen Cabinets
NO HST Ruby Ann Ruffolo friend’s house. Ruffolo’s attempt to “explain this evidence away” is “not capable of belief,” the justice wrote. Other complaints by Ruffolo, such as her first lawyer giving ineffective assistance, or that her trial was unfair due to a procedural issue, were equally dismissed as baseless. Ruffolo is serving a life sentence without chance of parole for 25 years. editor@saanichnews.com
10'x10' Kitchen $ Starting at
Cabinet Event
1,688
Cowry Pays the HST till Aug. 31/12
Granite Counter Tops
$ Starting at
40/sq.ft
Stainless Steel Sink or Italian Faucet $
200
Cowry Kitchen Station CORP cowrykitchen.com Visit our showroom, websilte or call today!
863 View Street, Victoria
250.590.8556
Wilkinson jailbreak leads to trial Kyle Slavin News staff
One of the men allegedly behind an attempted prison break from the Wilkinson Road jail last year is scheduled to go to trial for the incident next year. In July 2011, Saanich police said two prisoners created a large hole in the ceiling of a cell at the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre, a maximum security prison and remand centre on Wilkinson Road. The hole was apparently big enough for somebody to fit through, but it remains unclear
if either man used it to try escaping from the cell. “The circumstances are dramatic and very movie-like,” Saanich police Sgt. Dean Jantzen told the News at the time. The Saanich department investigated the attempted jailbreak and Jantzen gave assurances that the incident posed no risk to public safety. Andrew Jonathon Belcourt, 22, is charged with breaking out of a prison cell with intent to escape on July 12, 2011. He appeared in B.C. Supreme Court this week in Victoria, and a trial date was fixed for March
2013 in B.C. Supreme Court. The same charge was dropped against co-accused Max Higley. The only publicly known escape from Wilkinson Road jail was in 1986 by Robert Moyes, a career criminal later convicted of murdering seven people. Belcourt remains in custody and is also headed to B.C. Supreme Court in September for a pretrial hearing for the murder of Leslie Ronald Hankel in Fernwood on March 3, 2010. Samuel Gregory McGrath is also charged with murder for that crime. kslavin@saanichnews.com
RV LOTS FOR SALE or RENT Starting at $61,900 Westwood Lake, Nanaimo
A community based celebration of Fibre Artists sharing their knowledge A& community-based celebration of Fibrecraft. Artists enthusiasm for their sharing their knowledge & enthusiasm for their craft. Hiking • Biking • Swimming • Hot Tub • Club House with Country Kitchen 4 TVs • Pool Table • Power Room • Excerise Room
FEATURING:
REAL ESTATE CONSULTANT
Sales - 250-797-2880 Rentals - 250-754-1975 2323 Arbot Road
www.fibrations.ca
www.fibrations.ca
info@fibrations.ca
info@fibrations.ca