All Rise: The Riad Bouchaker Trial

This is a special episode of Newstalk's podcast series All Rise, focusing on the trial of four members of Jozef Puska's family

In November 2023, Jozef Puska was found guilty of murdering 23  year old schoolteacher Ashling Murphy in a brutal, unprovoked attack that shocked the nation.

18 months later, his brothers and their wives stood trial for various offences arising from the murder investigation; and a jury this week convicted all four of them.

Frank Greaney and Aisling Moore look at how events unfolded in the courtroom – what the jury heard, and what they didn’t hear – including a guilty plea from Jozef Puska’s wife.

They’ll also look ahead to what happens next as the Puskas await sentencing.

Jozef Puska was today handed a life sentence for the murder of Ashling Murphy.

In this episode, we’ll bring you the incredibly powerful and emotional victim impact statements delivered by Ashling’s family at today’s hearing.

We’ll also discuss the remarks of the judge in relation to the sentencing regime for convicted murderers in Ireland.

And we’ll hear from one of the country’s most senior gardaí, who spoke to the media after Puska was taken back to prison.

In this extended episode, Deborah Naylor, Courts Correspondent with Virgin Media News; and Eoin Reynolds, Courts Reporter with Courts News Ireland, join us to discuss what the jury didn’t hear during the trial.

And with Jozef Puska now a convicted murderer, we speak more freely about our opinions on the evidence, and we also have a chat about Ashling’s legacy.

Jozef Puska has been found guilty of murdering Ashling Murphy.

The jury deliberated for over two hours, but returned to Court 13 soon after 2pm when their foreman delivered the guilty verdict.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt added his own remarks, saying he agreed with their outcome, and added “we have evil in this room”.

In this episode, Frank and Aisling will take you through what happened in everything in court today, as well as reaction from Ashling’s family.

The jury in the Ashling Murphy murder trial has begun its deliberations.

In his charge to the jury this afternoon, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said if they’re to convict Jozef Puska of murder – they must be satisfied he stabbed Ashling Murphy 11 times in the neck.

Mr Justice Hunt said if they’re satisfied that no crime has been committed by Mr Puska, they must find him not guilty.

33-year-old Jozef Puska, of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, denies murdering the school teacher along the Grand Canal in Tullamore on January 12th 2022.

Today, the jury in the Ashling Murphy murder trial was told Jozef Puska has provided an ‘unequivocal structure of lies and mistruths’.

However, the defence has told jurors that they must be ‘very careful’ in assessing the evidence provided to them in this case

 Later this afternoon, Mr Justice Tony Hunt told the jurors that if they believe Jozef Puska’s version of events - that he was attacked by a masked man who also killed Ashling Murphy - then they must acquit.

Mr Puska, who’s 33 with an address of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, denies murder.

The jury in Jozef Puska’s trial for the murder of Ashling Murphy has now heard all of the evidence in the case.

The final piece of evidence presented to them came from an expert witness for the defence, who raised concerns about the reliability of Mr Puska’s confession.

The jurors were also given an update as to when they are likely to begin their deliberations.

Mr Puska denies murdering Ashling Murphy along the banks of the Grand Canal in Tullamore last year.

Jozef Puska has told the Central Criminal Court that he doesn't remember confessing to killing Ashling Murphy while he was in hospital.

Today he claimed he and Ms. Murphy were both attacked by a man wearing a face mask.

Under cross examination this afternoon from the prosecution, Jozef Puska said he didn’t remember making admissions to Gardaí that he killed Ashling Murphy in St James Hospital.

He denies murdering the school teacher.

Jozef Puska has taken the stand in the trial where he is accused of the murder of Ashling Murphy.

Before this, the prosecution closed its case by reading some of the Garda interviews with Mr Puska in Tullamore Garda Station after he was discharged from St James’ Hospital.

The jury also heard about an email sent to the Garda Press Office from a person claiming to be responsible for Ashling’s death.

Mr Puska will continue giving his evidence tomorrow. He denies murdering the school teacher in Tullamore in January, 2022.

The Ashling Murphy Murder Trial hit its "first speed bump” today.

For the first time since the trial opened last month, the jurors were sent home without hearing from any witnesses.

In this episode, you’ll hear what the judge had to say to them before he adjourned the case.

Ashling Murphy was killed while exercising along the banks of the grand canal in Tullamore, Co Offaly on January 12th, 2022.

Jozef Puska is on trial for her murder. He has pleaded not guilty.