escalating violence in our community Become a member of the Sensible Sentencing Trust

Mouseover links for full page descriptions

Offender Database John Ruka

John Patrick Ruka

Alias

.

Offences

Murdered Navin Govind during a food market robbery in West Auckland in October 1993
Also seriously assaulted his 11 year old son

Victims

Navin Govind

Offender Affiliations

Arnold Leef
Hector Kelly

Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1976

Current Location

At large in Kelston, West Auckland

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to ten years in July 1994.
First parole eligibility date May 2004
Had last known hearing May 2007

Background
From Brian Harmer's WYSIWYG News July 1994 ;
John Patrick Ruka, Arnold James Leef, and Hector Kelly (all aged 17) were given life sentences for the murder of Navin Govind. The three teenagers were the customers of the the murdered shopkeeper. The premeditated attack was planned for 2 weeks in advance. It took place at the shop in West Auckland last October. Navin Govind died a few days after the attact. The attackers also beat up his 11 year old son, Sanjay.
The brother of the deceased, wants to see hanging brought back to the NZ justice system.

NZ Herald story 20th June 2005
In October 1993 a gang of youths beat West Auckland shopkeeper Navin Govind to death with softball bats and attacked his 11-year-old son, Sanjay. Three of them - John Patrick Ruka, Arnold James Leefe and Hector Kelly - were convicted of his murder and received life sentences the following year.

---

Corrections and Additional Information
We endeavour to make this database as accurate as possible, but we are at the mercy of whatever information we can find in various online and offline archives. We rely on the public - that is, people like you - to fill in the gaps that we cannot. If you wish to submit additional information or a correction to this file CLICK HERE . Privacy: Trust policy is that all sources are treated as strictly confidential unless we are explicitly told otherwise. If you wish to see a file removed from this database certain conditions must be met by the offender set out HERE Note that this does NOT apply for those that are the primary offender in a murder, rape, or any sexual offending involving minors. We do not enter into correspondence regarding the guilt/innocence of offenders. Such correspondence is not responded to, especially if the offender concerned has a number of prior convictions

Back to Top