The Ashling Murphy murder trial has opened before the Central Criminal Court.
33-year-old Jozef Puska denies murdering the schoolteacher while she was exercising along the Grand Canal in Tullamore on January 12th, 2022.
Prosecuting Barrister Anne Marie Lawlor SC told the jury of 9 men and 3 women that Jozef Puska told Gardai through an interpreter ‘I did it. I am the murderer’ when he was interviewed in St James’ Hospital two days after Ashling Murphy’s death, and that he didn’t do it intentionally.
Ms. Murphy and Mr. Puska did NOT know each other nor had they any interaction prior to January 12th 2022.
Ms. Lawlor for the DPP alleges Mr. Puska’s DNA was found under Ms. Murphy’s fingernails – and that there is a 1 in 14 thousand chance it belongs to anyone else.
The Central Criminal Court heard there will be evidence which shows Ashling Murphy was stabbed 11 times on the right hand side of her neck.
The jury were told they will see photographs of the scene along the Grand Canal in Tullamore, which Anne Marie Lawlor said ‘was covered in briars’.
She added this is was significant, and claimed that Mr. Puska had cuts on every exposed part of his body, which Ms. Lawlor alleges is ‘consistent with leaving the scene’.
The jury also heard evidence relating to maps in various areas relating to the case.
The trial continues tomorrow morning.
