LAST UPDATE | 2 Oct 2023

THE TRIAL OF  Jozef Puska, who is charged with murdering 23-year-old schoolteacher Ashling Murphy, will begin before a jury at the Central Criminal Court in two weeks.

Puska (32) with an address at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly is charged with murdering Ms Murphy at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly on 12 January, 2022.

His trial was listed to begin today.

At the Central Criminal Court this morning Michael Bowman SC, representing Puska, said that once the jury is empanelled, they will be required for about four weeks.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt will oversee the trial.

Ashling Murphy had recently graduated from Mary Immaculate College in Limerick and was working in Durrow National School.

She was jogging beside the Grand Canal outside Tullamore when it is alleged she was fatally assaulted.

Her funeral was attended by President Michael D Higgins, who paid tribute to her “short but brilliant and generous life”.