Courts / Offaly / Report
Puska family members go on trial accused of impeding Ashling Murphy murder investigation
Summary
The trial has commenced at the Central Criminal Court for four individuals accused of impeding the investigation into the murder of Ashling Murphy. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs swore a jury to hear the case, which is expected to last up to five weeks. The defendants are Jozef Puska's brothers, Marek and Lubomir Puska, and their respective wives, Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gaziova. All four have pleaded not guilty. The brothers are charged under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988 with withholding information. It is alleged they failed to tell An Garda Síochána that Jozef Puska returned home to Mucklagh on the night of January 12, 2022, with visible injuries and admitted to "cutting" a female with a knife. They are also alleged to have known he travelled to Dublin that night. Marek Puska is further alleged to have been aware of an arrangement to burn clothing worn by Jozef Puska. The women are charged under the Criminal Law Act 1997 with assisting in burning clothing between January 12 and 14, intending to impede the apprehension or prosecution of Jozef Puska. The prosecution alleges the defendants knew or believed the withheld information or actions might assist in securing the conviction of Jozef Puska for a serious offence. Jozef Puska was previously tried and convicted of Ms Murphy's murder. The trial will begin with an opening statement by the prosecution.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Puska family members go on trial accused of impeding Ashling Murphy murder investigation. Charges or matters: withholding information by failing, without reasonable excuse, to tell a member of An Garda Siochana as soon as was practicable that Jozef Puska returned home to Mucklagh on the night of January 12, 2022 with visible injuries and admitted to "cutting" a female with a knife; the offences, which are charged under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988; the offences, which are charged under the Criminal Law Act 1997. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- January 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 12, 2022 Other
- January 12 Incident
- 2025-05-19 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: withholding information by failing, without reasonable excuse, to tell a member of An Garda Siochana as soon as was practicable that Jozef Puska returned home to Mucklagh on the night of January 12, 2022 with visible injuries and admitted to "cutting" a female with a knife; the offences, which are charged under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988; the offences, which are charged under the Criminal Law Act 1997 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Convicted Person
Charges: withholding information by failing, without reasonable excuse, to tell a member of An Garda Siochana as soon as was practicable that Jozef Puska returned home to Mucklagh on the night of January 12, 2022 with visible injuries and admitted to "cutting" a female with a knife; the offences, which are charged under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988; the offences, which are charged under the Criminal Law Act 1997 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Accused
Charges: withholding information by failing, without reasonable excuse, to tell a member of An Garda Siochana as soon as was practicable that Jozef Puska returned home to Mucklagh on the night of January 12, 2022 with visible injuries and admitted to "cutting" a female with a knife; the offences, which are charged under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988; the offences, which are charged under the Criminal Law Act 1997 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Convicted Person
Charges: withholding information by failing, without reasonable excuse, to tell a member of An Garda Siochana as soon as was practicable that Jozef Puska returned home to Mucklagh on the night of January 12, 2022 with visible injuries and admitted to "cutting" a female with a knife; the offences, which are charged under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988; the offences, which are charged under the Criminal Law Act 1997 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Accused
Charges: withholding information by failing, without reasonable excuse, to tell a member of An Garda Siochana as soon as was practicable that Jozef Puska returned home to Mucklagh on the night of January 12, 2022 with visible injuries and admitted to "cutting" a female with a knife; the offences, which are charged under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988; the offences, which are charged under the Criminal Law Act 1997 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Convicted Person
Charges: withholding information by failing, without reasonable excuse, to tell a member of An Garda Siochana as soon as was practicable that Jozef Puska returned home to Mucklagh on the night of January 12, 2022 with visible injuries and admitted to "cutting" a female with a knife; the offences, which are charged under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988; the offences, which are charged under the Criminal Law Act 1997 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
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