Omega Ruston: Grieving parents believe police are closer than ever at bringing their son’s killers to justice

The parents of a Gold Coast man gunned down in a suspected road rage attack believe police are closer than ever at bringing their son’s killers to justice.

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THE parents of a Gold Coast man gunned down in a suspected road rage attack believe police are closer than ever at bringing their son’s killers to justice.

In the meantime, they are “determined to not become victims but to be there for his children”.

Speaking in the wake of the $250,000 reward announced by the state government, Phil and Wendy Ruston say they have refused to be corroded by the thought of their son’s killers.

They hope the reward will provide “additional incentive” for someone to come forward and help crack the case and say recent developments in technology mean police are “closer to an arrest than anytime”.

Omega Ruston with then partner Courtney Kete. Pic. Supplied

Omega Ruston, a tradie and father of two, was shot dead on the side of the Gold Coast Highway at Burleigh Heads on Australia Day in 2009.

Police have been probing the case in recent months, following a renewed investigation by the Homicide Cold Case Investigation Team and Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch. They believe the people involved in the death of Omega were linked to Gold Coast and Sydney chapters of organised crime syndicates and outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Phil, Nicholas and Christian Ruston appeal for information into the 2009 fatal shooting of their son, and brother Omega Ruston on the Gold Coast highway at Burleigh Heads on Australia Day, Police HQ, Brisbane. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

“Focusing on them is only going to corrode us in every way, they really aren’t worth it and so it’s been one of those things you wrap up in a bundle to put in the back of your mind, perhaps to revisit later,” Phil Ruston said about his son’s killers. “There are always going to be killers out there … so best we show the young that a violent mindset won’t really take anybody to a good place – it’s what caused the trouble in the first place.”

He said there was “every hope of an arrest at any time” and urged anyone with information to come forward. “Surely this killer isn’t worthy of anyone’s protection?” he said.

Mr Ruston, who stood beside his son Nicholas during a public appeal in March, said the drawn out process of closure “messes with your head”.

“Each turn of events can’t help but reopen wounds and displace your day-to-day life as your thoughts return again to what happened, what might have been, along with the eternal what ifs,” he said.

Phil Ruston at an press conference appealing for information into his son Omega Ruston’s death.

Mr Ruston issued a blunt message to young male drivers urging them to recognise the signs of road-rage, take it seriously, tone it down and not become involved.

Mrs Ruston said she still had many questions as to why her son was gunned down.

“Nobody wins,” she said.

She said it took years to “feel ourselves again” after Omega’s death but were “determined to not become victims but to be there for his children knowing he will always be watching over them”.

“He has a very strong spirit – you can never kill that.”

Nicholas, Phil, and Christian Ruston appeal for information into the 2009 fatal shooting of Omega Ruston in March. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

In March, Queensland detectives travelled to NSW as part of their investigations into the cold case.

With the assistance of NSW Police they searched the Parramatta River Ferry terminus for a firearm believed to have been used in the shooting murder of Omega.

The firearm was also believed to have been used in a drive-by shooting in Sydney. Investigations are ongoing.

If you have any information contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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