Jury begins consideration of verdict in Ashling Murphy murder trial

THE jury in the trial of Jozef Puska for the murder of Offaly schoolteacher Ashling Murphy has been sent home for the evening.

The jury was released by Mr Justice Tony Hunt at 3.35pm to begin their deliberations after he had concluded his directions to them at the Central Criminal Court.

Justice Hunt told the jurors to deal with what was before them rationally or unemotionally.

If they believed he was a “misunderstood good Samaritan” they must acquit him but if they are satisfied he inflicted the neck wounds on Ms Murphy with the intention of killing or causing serious harm to her then they would find him guilty.

He said there was a lot of evidence for them to consider. “You take whatever time is necessary,” he said.

The three-week trial has heard evidence that Mr Puska, a 33-year-old native of Slovakia with an address at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, had attacked Ms Murphy at the canal between Digby Bridge and Boland's Lock, stabbing her with a knife and cutting her neck.

Mr Puska was linked forensically with Ms Murphy and a bike found at the scene of the killing but he told the court that he had been attacked and stabbed by a man himself at the canal and was then trying to help the woman, who had also been attacked.

He left the scene when he panicked and spent a number of hours in a ditch before returning home to Mucklagh.

The trial heard earlier that Mr Puska admitted attacking Ms Murphy when questioned by gardai in hospital but later said he could not remember that.

The jury will return at 10.30am tomorrow (Thursday) morning.