Man Accused of Murdering Schoolteacher in Ireland Pleads Not Guilty
In a case concerning the tragic murder of schoolteacher Ashling Murphy in the Republic of Ireland last year, the accused, Jozef Puska, aged 33 and residing at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, County Offaly, has entered a plea of not guilty.
The charge of murdering the 23-year-old victim, who was fatally assaulted while jogging near Tullamore in January 2022, was presented to Mr. Puska during proceedings at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on Monday afternoon. Through a Slovakian interpreter, he stood and firmly replied, “Not guilty.”
A jury consisting of nine men and three women has been empaneled for the upcoming trial, scheduled to commence on Tuesday morning. The trial, presided over by Mr. Justice Tony Hunt, is anticipated to span up to five weeks.
Justice Hunt also issued a directive to the jurors, cautioning them against engaging in public discussions about the case on social media, as it has garnered “more than the usual share of publicity.” He emphasised that any such engagement could pose significant challenges to the trial process.
The judge further encouraged jurors to disclose any issues related to the case’s publicity that might prevent them from delivering an impartial trial, as he would consider excusing them from serving on the jury.
Irish Samachar English News
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