The four associates of murder, Jozef Puska, have accepted the findings of a jury who, last month, found them guilty of various offences related to the concealment of information from An Garda Síochána in the aftermath of the murder of Ashling Murphy.
As Gript previously reported, Jozef Puska’s wife Lucia Istokova pleaded guilty on the first day of the trial when she was arraignment before the court.
The Central Criminal Court heard that all five, Puska’s brothers Marek and Lubomir, his wife Lucia Istokova, and his brother’s wives, Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gaziova are engaging with the Probation Services ahead of sentencing in relation to their offences.
Ms. Justice Caroline Biggs extended legal aid to cover psychological reports in respect of the five should they be advised to procure these by their representatives.
Counsel for the five indicated that they were happy for today’s short hearing to proceed without the aid of an interpreter, of which there were two present for the duration of their trial.
Marek Puska has already met with the Probation Services and has another meeting this week, his counsel Mr. Finnegan, told the court.
Lubomir Puska is to have his first meeting this week,
Jozefina Grundzova has had an initial meeting with the {robatin Services and is due to meet with them again this week.
Lucia Istovova is due to attend a meeting with them this week.
The court heard that a full day should be set aside to deal with the sentencing, which was fixed for the 7th of October next, by which time the probation reports, and any other reports outstanding, are expected to have been completed.
The five defendants were remanded on continuing bail with no adjustments made to the conditions of these.
Both brothers were found guilty that they, on dates between the 14th and 15th of January 2022 both dates inclusive, within the State did fail, without reasonable excuse, to disclose as soon as practicable to a member of An Garda Síochána information to wit Jozef Puska had returned to an address in Tullamore on the 23rd of January 2022 with visible injuries, and that he had admitted to killing or seriously injuring a female with a knife.
Marek was charged that he was aware of an arrangement to burn clothing worn by Jozef Puska at the time of the murder and that Jozef Puska subsequently travelled to Dublin on the 12th Jan 2022, being information that they knew or believed might be of material assistance in securing the apprehension, prosecution, or conviction of Jozef Puska for an offence to wit involving the loss of human life or serious harm to another contrary to Section 9.1.B of the Offences Against the State Act 1998.
Lubomir was charged with similar offences, bar the knowledge of the intent to burn clothing.
The brother’s partners, Viera Gaziova (34) – the partner of Lubomir Puska – and Jozefina Grundzova (39) – the partner of Marek Puska – were found guilty that they on dates between 12th and 14th of January 2022 within the state knowing or believing that Jozef Puska had committed an offence of murder or some other arrestable offence of similar category or nature, did without reasonable excuse act with intent to impede his apprehension, prosecutions, or conviction namely by burning items of clothing belonging to him. This offence is assisting an offender contrary to Sec 7.2 and 4 of the Criminal Law Act 1997.