The wife of Jozef Puska, Lucia Ist0kova pleaded guilty to charges related to the aftermath of the murder of Ashling Murphy in 2022, it can now be revealed.
Istokova (34) pleaded guilty to charges of withholding information from An Garda Síochána that was pertinent to the apprehension of a person suspected of the serious harm or murder of another, and that she was aware of an arraignment to burn the clothing worn by her husband at the time of Ms. Murphy’s murder.
After Istokova entered her guilty plea before Ms. Justice Caroline Biggs on the 19th of May last, Gript Media made a high court application to lift reporting restrictions that were placed in respect of the ongoing case against the associates of Jozef Puska.
Immediately after Istakova indicated her guilty plea, representatives of two of the remaining accused, Jozefina Grundzova, and Viera Gaziova sought reporting restrictions in respect of Ist0kova’s plea. This application was granted by Mrs. Justice Caroline Biggs in the usual manner, without hearing representations from the media.
Justice Biggs invited representatives of media organisations to challenge the order with regard to the ruling of Justice Frank Clarke in the Anderson case.
Barrister Conor Rock JC, briefed by Robinson Solicitors on behalf of Gript Media, was unsuccessful in his application to have those restrictions lifted, with the court upholding the restriction until the jury in the case had delivered a verdict.
Today, all four defendants were found guilty.
It can therefore now be reported that Mr. Puska’s wife, Lucia, pled guilty to charges of withholding information material to a criminal investigation, and will be sentenced at a later date.