Ireland Defence concludes in Tullamore murder trial of Jozef Puska
Ashling Murphy, a 23-year-old woman, was killed while out for a run along the canal near Cappincur in Tullamore, Co Offaly, in January 2022. Slovakian man Jozef Puska, 33, allegedly confessed to the murder to gardaí at St James' Hospital on the evening of 14 January 2022 and has since pleaded not guilty to the charge. His trial before Mr Justice Hunt at the Central Criminal Court heard witness testimony placing a man on top of Murphy and expert evidence that medication given before his alleged confession would not have affected his behaviour. The defence concluded its evidence on 6 November 2023, and the jury is expected to hear closing speeches and begin deliberating.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court17 Oct
5 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Ashling Murphy, a 23-year-old woman, was killed while out for a run along the canal near Cappincur in Tullamore, Co Offaly.
- Where
- The incident took place at the canal near Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly.
- When
- The killing is reported as having taken place on 12 January 2022 or the afternoon of 22 January 2022.
- Cause
- The prosecution alleges the motive for the murder may have been sexual.
- Investigation
- Puska allegedly confessed to the murder to gardaí at St James' Hospital on the evening of 14 January 2022.
- A witness told the court she saw a man on top of Ashling Murphy, and the defence told the court the man she identified was not Puska.
- Charges
- Jozef Puska, a 33-year-old Slovakian man, has been charged with the murder of Ashling Murphy and has pleaded not guilty.
- In court
- The trial is before Mr Justice Hunt and a jury of nine men and three women at the Central Criminal Court.
- A witness told the court the accused man was holding Ashling Murphy down when she came on the scene, and the defence argued Puska was trying to assist her.
- A professor of pharmacology told the court that drugs given to Puska would have had no impact on his behaviour or ability to communicate.
- The defence concluded its evidence on 6 November 2023, and the jury is expected to hear closing speeches and begin deliberating.
29 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAshling Murphy was killed while out for a run along the canal near Cappincur in Tullamore. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatJozef Puska has pleaded not guilty to murdering Ashling Murphy. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at the canal in Tullamore, Co Offaly. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe killing took place at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe killing took place in Tullamore, Co Offaly. (rte.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on the afternoon of January 22, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe killing took place on 12 January 2022. (offalyexpress.ie)
- causeThe headline says the motive for the murder may have been sexual. (extra.ie)
- investigationA witness was later called in to identify the attacker, and the defence told the court the man she identified was not Puska. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationPuska confessed to the murder to gardaí at St James' Hospital on the evening of 14 January 2022. (rte.ie)
- chargeJozef Puska is accused of the murder of Ashling Murphy. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeJozef Puska has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ashling Murphy. (rte.ie)
- courtA court was told that a man confessed involvement in Ashling Murphy's murder to gardaí. (extra.ie)
- courtA witness told the court that the accused man was holding Ashling Murphy down when the witness came on the scene. (extra.ie)
- courtThe trial of Jozef Puska was on its third day. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial continues before Mr Justice Hunt and a jury of nine men and three women. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge told the jury to return the next day to hear the prosecution's final two witnesses. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe defence has concluded its evidence in the trial of Jozef Puska. (rte.ie)
- courtThe final defence witness was a recently retired NHS consultant in emergency and intensive care medicine. (rte.ie)
- courtThe jury will hear closing speeches from both sides and is expected to begin considering its verdict after the judge's charge on Wednesday. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge told the jurors they had now heard all the evidence in the case. (rte.ie)
- otherPuska has pleaded not guilty to the murder. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA witness told the court she saw a man on top of Ashling Murphy. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe defence argues Puska was trying to assist Ashling Murphy when she was seen. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA professor of pharmacology told the Central Criminal Court that drugs given to Puska would have had no impact on his behaviour or ability to communicate. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherProf Ryan said the drugs given to Puska would have had no influence on his behaviour. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe prosecution alleges Puska admitted the murder while in a hospital bed in St James's. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherDrugs administered to Jozef Puska had no impact on his behaviour before alleged admissions. (extra.ie)
- otherThe defence witness said he had concern about the reliability of Puska's engagement with gardaí on the evening of 14 January. (rte.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 13 Nov2023Jozef Puska’s Motive In Brutal Murder Of Ashling Murphy May Have Been ‘Sexual’
Only the headline is usable. The article body contains template code and no details of the case. No existing case in the list covers a motive report, and the murder has many existing records, so no case_id is given.
victim, Ashling Murphy, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphysuspect, Jozef Puska, namedJozef Puska - 6 Nov2023Defence concludes evidence in trial of Jozef Puska
Reports that the defence has closed its evidence, that a defence expert said Puska may not have been fit to be interviewed, and that the jury is due to hear closing speeches and begin deliberating. It does not give a verdict.
victim, Ashling Murphy, 23, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphyaccused, Jozef Puska, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jozef Puska - 31 Oct2023Drugs Administered To Jozef Puska Had 'No Impact On His Behaviour' Before Alleged Admissions
Only the headline is available; the article text is missing from the source. It appears to concern the Puska murder case, but the body does not confirm this.
accused, Jozef Puska, namedJozef Puska - 31 Oct2023Medication would not have made Jozef Puska confess - expert tells Ashling Murphy murder trial
Reports mid-trial evidence from a pharmacology expert, Prof Michael Ryan, on oxycodone and other drugs given to Puska before he allegedly confessed. Adds the prosecution's account of the alleged admissions and the jury composition. Puska is still on trial, not convicted.
victim, Ashling Murphy, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphyaccused, Jozef Puska, 33, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jozef Puska - 19 Oct2023Jozef Puska was 'trying to assist' Ashling Murphy, defence claims
Covers the third day of the trial, with witness testimony that a man was seen on top of Ashling Murphy and the defence's cross-examination arguing Puska was trying to assist her.
victim, Ashling Murphy, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphyaccused, Jozef Puska, male, Slovakian, named, non-irishJozef Puska - 18 Oct2023Witness Tells Court Man Accused Of Ashling Murphy Murder' Holding Her Down' When She Came on Scene
The article body is an unrendered page template with no text. Only the headline is available, and it reports a witness's testimony at the trial.
victim, Ashling Murphy, irish (judged from name)Ashling Murphyaccused, male - 17 Oct2023Court Told Man Confessed Involvement In Ashling Murphy's Murder To Gardaí
Only the headline is present; the article text is template code with no body. No existing case mentions a confession, so no match was made.
suspect, male