Ruth Mataafa was killed by her ex-partner on Saturday afternoon at a home in Bidwell in Western Sydney in front of family members.
Police officers found 22-year-old Mataafa outside the home with multiple stab wounds to her chest, side and back.
She was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics at the scene and taken to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition. She died later that afternoon.
Her ex-partner Jaciah Fuimaono, 22, was found inside the home with self inflicted stab wounds to his chest. Police confirmed that he took his own life after violently killing Ruth Mataafa.
As the month of May comes to an end, we are met with sobering statistics from Counting Dead Women Australia researchers at Destroy The Joint: 23 women have been killed in 2020 as a result of violence against women.
23.
— Destroy The Joint (@JointDestroyer) May 31, 2020
23 too many.
RIPhttps://t.co/Qxqa0jrSud#CountingDeadWomen pic.twitter.com/AxDXlMzmoY
Destroy The Joint’s register of dead women in Australia shows that 9 women were killed in the month of May alone, which was Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month.
As anti-violence campaigner Tarang Chawla wrote on Twitter over the weekend, “Ruth had her whole life ahead of her. And yet, one man’s actions have meant that her future has been stolen from her.”
Why is it so difficult to ignore the deafening cries of women who are murdered by their current or former partners?
— Tarang Chawla (@tarang_chawla) May 30, 2020
Ruth had her whole life ahead of her. And yet, one man’s actions have meant that her future has been stolen from her.
Her name is Ruth Mataafa.
If you or someone you know is in need of help due to family and domestic violence contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732
In an emergency call 000.