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Court Hears Jozef Puska Told Gardaí "I Am The Murderer"

Wednesday, 25 October 2023 13:03

Gardaí have been giving evidence in the Ashling Murphy murder trial.

The jury in the Ashling Murphy murder trial has heard Jozef Puska told Gardaí "I am the murderer."

33-year-old Mr. Puska, of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Offaly, denies the schoolteacher's murder along the banks of the Grand Canal in Tullamore on January 12th, 2022.

Detective Sergeant Brian Jennings from Birr Garda Station gave evidence of two interactions he had with Jozef Puska while he was in St. James Hospital on January 14th 2022.

In the first interaction Det. Sgt. Jennings said they spoke to Mr. Puska about being driven up to Dublin, and a taxi trip to Blanchardstown where Mr. Puska claimed he was attacked by two men. 

Here, he told the jury Jozef Puska was speaking freely, and that an interpreter was struggling to keep up with him and that he was fully awake and engaging.

Later that evening, Det. Sgt. Jennings re-entered the hospital with another colleague who had a search warrant.

They arranged an interpreter and said the murder of Ashling Murphy was on the warrant.

Det. Sgt. Jennings then said it was here that Mr. Puska asked was he a suspect, later through the interpreter said “I did it, I murdered, I am the murderer."

Det. Sgt. Jennings said he offered Mr. Puska a solicitor, which he accepted and went on to ask if his name or address would be published – and asking if his family was safe.

The jury of nine men and three women heard he had been cautioned while making these statements.

The trial continues this afternoon.

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