The trial of four associates of murderer Jozef Puska continued today at the Central Criminal Court where evidence was heard relating to the aftermath of the death of Ashling Murphy.
The jury panel of five women and seven men heard that when Gardaí met the young teacher’s killer in St. James’ Hospital Dublin, on the day after her death, he had a tube in his nose and was awake when officers walked into the room.
He was interviewed sitting in a wheelchair in a staff office away from the six bed ward he was in where a Slovakian interpreter was live on a phone held by the Garda officer.
A Grada witness based in Birr, County Offaly gave evidence that Puska had scratches on his forehead, his head, and the back of his hands. Puska claimed that these injuries were as a result of being “dragged along the ground” after he said he had been attacked by two men in Blanchardstown
Puska claimed that he went to Blanchardstown to meet a Hungarian woman “behind his wife’s back”, and that he had made contact with this individual after finding a piece of paper with her number on it.
Had claimed that he had been at home but had asked a friend called Tom to drop him to Heuston Station before saying he got a taxi to Blanchardstown, but that when he got there he was assailed and stabbed.
Gardaí obtained a search warrant in respect of some items relating to Puska.
At 18:15pm he was interviewed again in the presence of a Detective Garda Fergus Hogan who affirmed that he had seen the injuries to his head, forehead, and the backs of his hands, which he described as being consistent with cuts from brambles.
Puska was asked if he knew that a girl had been murdered in Tullamore and he said he was.
The court heard that at this point the interpreter said that Puska wished to “make an official statement”.
Puska asked the interviewing Gardaí if he was a suspect, and was told he was “a person of interest”.
The interpreter said “He is admitting that he committed the murder” and “I did it”, “I am the murderer”.
Puska also expressed concern for his family saying “Nothing bad them” and “I regret it”.
Gardaí cautioned him at this point, and he continued to make statements in relation to being worried abbott his family and wondering if anything bad would happen to them, or if the family of the deceased Ms. Murphy would harm them.
He claimed that he had not killed Ms. Murphy intentionally and expressed concern that his name, and address would be publicised.
The court heard that a Romanian man was Initially arrested on suspicion of the murder, but had been released.
He told Detective Garda Hogan, “I do this”, “I have family 5 kids”, “I see girl I never see before, I have knife, I have use for [bicycle]chain”.
“I tell her go, I won’t hurt you”, “I cut her”, She panic, I panic, and then it happened”.
Detective Hogan said that Puska had pointed to his stomach, where there was an injury, and said “I do this”.
When asked about the Falcon Storm bicycle that was found near Ms. Murphy’s body, he said that it has been stolen from him two weeks ago, but that he did not report this.
The statement of Slovakian man, Rostislav Pokuta, who came to Ireland in 2007, and drove a bus which some of the Puska children took said that on the night of the murder after 9pm, Jozef Puska had come to his door unexpectedly and had repeatedly asked him to drive him back to the house where his wife, Lucia Istakova, his two brother and their respective partners lived.
The court heard that the man had omitted his part of the events from a previous statement as he was worried about his name getting out and the possibility of he or his family members losing their jobs as a result.
He said that Puskas were “Not a bad family”, “I don’t know why Jozef did what he did” and “I can’t believe it” .
He said that when Puska had come to his home he was wet, “blue” in appearance, and looked like he had been in a fight, saying “I had a problem with lads in town” and “please would you bring me home”.
Puska asked for water, and during the car ride home Pokuta said he asked him “50 times” what had happened that night.
He said that when the car approached the home of the Puska family, Jozef had asked him to hold back as someone might be outside.
The trial will continue tomorrow before Ms. Justice Caroline Biggs.