A12- The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, July 14 2004
Accused killer
seeks money.

for defence -

A FORMER Terrace resident charged with. the first de- 7
- gree murder of her husband is’ appealing to ‘old. friends. to.

help pay. for her defence.

Ruby Ann. Ruffolo, whose maiden narhe is s Saba, “says. 7

she's broke and.is in danger of dosing her Victoria. home.’

‘Now 48, the 1975:high school giad is out on-$50,000
bail awaiting. a° fil irst-degree. ‘murdeér ‘trial ‘after her. hus-*
band, John Ruffolo; was found dead ona. toad in Lang-

ford,:a, suburb’ of. -Victoria,. last October...

Ruffolo: says she needs’ ‘money: to hire : a lawyer to: free
up assets: held in‘ her husband's: name she can sien use to .

hire-a criminal lawyer: :

‘ The pair owned: a: number. of rental properties.. “We ”

had everything in my ‘husband’ s name,” Ruffolo:says.-.

“He was:a: traditional. Italian male and everything. was.
in the: male’s “name,” .adds- Ruffolo, who. now: “says she-

"was naive-to let thal happen...

“Sixteen. years ‘T worked alongside’ him,” she Says, Ll
“adding she was, -in effect; her’ husband's property man- ms

ager while he held-various other jobs. -

The. pair lived’ ‘together for two years: “and were mar-..
ried for 14, The pair had a daughter, Jovanna, 13. Ruffolo..
had a.son; Johnny, from. a Previous relationship. He died

several years ago...

—— Ruffolo: says: “all of het. ‘husband’s. assets. are: now: w tied
' up by the: provincial public trustee's office.: ‘Until she can
gain access," she’ can’t raisé the. money to hire a defence.
lawyer. And she says legal aid: can’t provide: her. with: en-..
ough money to hire. a: lawyer, for what ‘she ‘says. will be.’ a
long and complicated court ‘case. ‘Two. Victoria lawyers .
are helping out With. Ruffalo’ Ss s defence’ at. no ) charge for

now,

: Ruffolo estimates , the property. asiets. are “Worth: as
much .as:$350,000; A criminal defence: lawyer. and’ asso-.

" ciated expenses would. cost: as much, as $150, 000, she
adds. -.

Ruffolo. also needs money “te ite: a civil ‘lawyer to: re-
claim Jovanna, who. wag: stized by: provincial child wels: :

. fare. officials in the: spring.

“People who knew me in 1 school: knew. me- w ad decent
_ and hardworking. person,” Ruffalo: says. as Pe always

tried todo the right thing.”

‘She says: she’ Ws sign’ anything: people: want who - ‘pro-
vide her with money: so. she. can: pay. ‘it back: when . aig’

can-reclaim: her: husband's | assets,

> “It's an ‘impossible situation,” ‘says: Rurffoto, “You

. can *t fight without “money.”

" Ruffolo, 36, was, reported ong ost. 20; 2003 ater

Ruby” ‘Ann. Ruffolo: was: arrested: ‘this March after a.
‘lengthy RCMP: and. Saanich’ police. investigation. | She’ »
has several times. said stie is innocent: of any: charges... ao

A. second. ‘woman, : Vivian Marie’ Kirkland, ha also:

been charged with first: degree. murder. -

There is aban: on. in, publication ‘ of evidence surrounding.

- the ‘case.

Police. did tid the. Ruffolo home: and’ ‘their | investiga.

involve significant forensic work and interviews.

: fone

. week.

. John ‘Ruffolo had. also ‘been a guard. at, the provincial
Wilkinson Road: jail onthe outskirts of Victoria.: He: had.

also: been embroiled in, landlord-tenant: disputes...

Diana Penner, an old school: friend of Ruby’ Ann Ruf-. a

folo, ‘has.set up-a bank: account’ for her'defence,

Penner fell out. of contact with: Ruffolo ‘after ‘school. _
but then reconnected fora bit: A phone. ‘call from Ruffolo «: -.
this’ spring : was the first. she had heard from her friend in”

at least 15- years, - = °°)
‘They’ ve spoken since;

said enter. > :

“She said: she. needed ‘financial aid. She haa she née
‘deda bigger name lawyer and.shé can’t use her. property,

aS /an asset because: it’s frozen,” said Penner.

. Penner has set up an account in ‘trust-in: her name ‘for
Ruffolo at the TD Canada. Trust t ln Terrace: ‘The number i is

-93800-004- 093}. 6225772.

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