The jury at the trial of Jozef Puska for the murder of Ashling Murphy has heard there is “overwhelming” evidence that the Slovakian is guilty of the murder of the schoolteacher and that he “fabricated” a “contemptible” story denying the killing.
“He killed her, he killed her brutally by inflicting stab wounds upon her,” senior counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor said in her closing address to the jury at the Central Criminal Court. She accused Mr Puska of telling “lies after lies after lies”.
Michael Bowman SC, for the accused said that killing of Ms Murphy was barbaric and horrible and that the prosecution needed to establish guilt case beyond reasonable doubt.
PROSECUTION
Addressing the jury, Ms Lawlor said a “fundamental question” for the jury was who killed Ms Murphy – and confirmed that it was the prosecution’s contention that this was “unequivocally” and “clearly, Jozef Puska”.
She hoped the jury agreed the evidence that he was guilty is “overwhelming”, she said.
She reminded them that they had heard that Mr Puska confessed to killing Ashling Murphy – but that he had then spun “lies and mistruths” about the killing.
Mr Puska (33), a native of Slovakia living in Co Offaly for eight years, pleaded not guilty to the charge of Ms Murphy on October 16th at the Central Criminal Court.
The young schoolteacher was attacked and suffered 11 stab wounds in the right side of her neck when out for a run in Tullamore on 12th January 2022.
DEFENCE
Defence counsel, Michael Bowman, said that Mr Puska had said he was trying to help Ms Murphy and that one witness, Jenna Stack, who had told the court she believed the accused was holding the victim down, did not have a clear line of sight about what was taking place.
He warned that the jury should not have “a closed mind” when considering the case and reminded them that another man had been arrested on the day of the murder before Mr Puska.
Ashling Murphy’s parents, Ray and Kathleen, and her sister and brother, Amy and Cathal were present in the packed courtroom today for the closing addresses – as were members of Mr Puska’s family, including his parents.