Courts / Offaly / Report

Trial of man accused of murdering teacher Ashling Murphy postponed

Summary

The Central Criminal Court trial of 32‑year‑old Jozef Puska, accused of murdering 23‑year‑old teacher Ashling Murphy in Offaly, has been postponed to the autumn. Puska, who lives in Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, was charged with the fatal assault that occurred on 12 January 2022 while Murphy was jogging along the Grand Canal near Tullamore. The trial, originally scheduled for 7 June, was delayed after the State received an expert report from the defence and the prosecution needed time to respond and obtain a further report. Prosecutor Ms Anne Marie Lawlor SC requested the June date be vacated and the case be listed for the first day of the Michaelmas term on 2 October. The judge set a new trial date of 2 October 2023 and agreed to renew an application for a Slovakian interpreter. The case will be mentioned again on 21 July for a pre‑trial management hearing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Trial of man accused of murdering teacher Ashling Murphy postponed. Charges or matters: murdering the 23-year-old primary school teacher at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly, on January 12, 2022. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

• January 12, 2022 Incident
• June 7 Hearing Or Sentence
• October 2 Incident
• July 21 Hearing Or Sentence
• October 2, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2023-05-17 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Charge Or Pretrial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report