Ashling Murphy murder: Trial of Jozef Puska to begin later this month

The trial of a man accused of murdering schoolteacher Ashling Murphy in Co Offaly is expected to open before a jury at the Central Criminal Court later this month.

Prior to that, a hearing of pretrial issues, expected to last two weeks, will open on Wednesday before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.

Slovakian national Jozef Puska (32), with an address at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, is charged with the murder of Ms Murphy at Cappincur, Tullamore, on the afternoon of January 12th 2022.

A talented traditional Irish musician and recent graduate from Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, Ms Murphy (23) was working as a teacher at Durrow National School at the time of her death.

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The case was listed in the Central Criminal Court on Monday morning when Michael Bowman SC, for Mr Puska, said pretrial matters are expected to take two weeks and the length of the trial would be dependent on rulings in those.

Asked by Mr Justice Paul Burns for an estimate of the duration of the full trial, counsel estimated six weeks.

Ann-Marie Lawlor SC represented the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Mr Justice Burns, who was dealing with several other matters in the packed courtroom on the first day of the new legal year, adjourned the case to 2pm before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.

Friends and family members of Ms Murphy, including her sister Amy, were in court when the matter was mentioned to Mr Justice McDermott.

After Mr Bowman outlined the position concerning pretrial matters, Mr Justice McDermott said he would list a hearing of pretrial issues to begin before Mr Justice Hunt on Wednesday.