His brothers have pleaded not guilty to withholding information.
A jury has been told Jozef Puska’s two brothers are accused of misleading gardai in terms of what they told them after Ashling Murphy was murdered in 2022.
His brothers, Marek and Lubomir, have pleaded not guilty to withholding information from gardai; while their wives deny assisting Jozef Puska.
Opening his case today, the prosecuting barrister, Sean Gillane SC, told the jury that while Jozef Puska isn’t on trial here, 'he looms very large in this case.'
In 2022, he murdered Ashling Murphy, by repeatedly stabbing her in the neck, while she was out exercising along the Grand Canal in Tullamore.
Mr Gillane SC said an important development in the case was when it emerged that Jozef Puska had returned home on the night of the murder.
“At the core of the case,” he said, “is what Jozef Puska said back at the house, and what was clearly observable, in terms of his appearance and demeanour.”
Jozef Puska shared a house in Mucklagh with his wife and children; his brothers, Marek and Lubomir; and their wives, Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gazoiva.
It is the State’s case that Marek and Lubomir “misled” gardai by not revealing “crucial information,” including that he returned home that night.
Their wives are both accused of assisting Jozef Puska by burning his clothes.
Midlands Gardaí Appeal For Witnesses To Fatal Crash
Midlands Security & Defence Analyst Says Hoax Bomb Threats Aimed To Intimidate
Almost €446,000 Allocated To Midlands Community Centres And Clubhouses
Midlands Family Takes On Ireland’s Fittest Family Challenge
5K Fundraiser To Support Motor Neurone Disease Association Takes Place In Westmeath
No Slowing Down With Age As Westmeath Bowlers Shine At 14th Annual National Bowls Competition
Woman Appears In Court Over €280k Cannabis Seizure In Midlands