All Rise: The Riad Bouchaker Trial

The jury in the Ashling Murphy murder trial has heard there's no evidence to suggest medication had an effect on Jozef Puska in relation to admissions he made to Gardaí two days after her death.

Professor Michael Ryan, an expert in pharmacology and toxicology, told the jury that in his opinion there is no evidence to suggest Jozef Puska’s admissions to Gardai were related to any drug.

Mr. Puska denies murdering Ashling Murphy in Tullamore on January 12th, 2022.

Today the jury heard evidence that a DNA profile matching that of Jozef Puska was found under Ashling Murphy’s fingernails.

Dr Lorna Flanagan said the likelihood of this male DNA belonging to someone unrelated to him was 'one in 14,000'.

The jury also heard from Detective Sergeant David Scahill about arresting and ultimately charging Mr Puska with Ashling’s murder on 19th January 2022.

Mr Puska has pleaded not guilty.

Today the jury heard evidence from the interpreter who acted as a translator between gardaí and Jozef Puska while he was in St James’ Hospital.

Miroslav Sedlacek said Mr Puska asked him to translate ‘accurately and exactly’, saying ‘I did it’ but that he didn’t do it intentionally.  

The jury of nine men and three women also heard some forensic evidence, which found a DNA profile from a bicycle was a match for Mr Puska.

He denies murdering Ashling Murphy on 12th January 2022.

At today’s hearing of the Ashling Murphy murder trial, the jury heard Jozef Puska told Gardaí he was the murderer.

The jurors also heard evidence about a search warrant being executed and of how he became upset as said he committed the murder. He denies murdering 23 year old school teacher Ashling Murphy.

NOTE: Some of the evidence heard today is distressing in nature, listener discretion is advised.

In today’s sitting at the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard about evidence taken from Ashling Murphy’s Fitbit smart watch.

She was wearing it on the day she died, and it tracked her heart rate and exercise route along the canal in Tullamore on the afternoon of 12th January 2022.

The jury also heard from a friend of Jozef Puska who gave him a lift home to Mucklagh that evening.

Separately, a Garda Sgt gave evidence about the statement Mr Puska made to them about being "set upon and assaulted by two men" when he said he arrived in Blanchardstown to meet a woman.

Mr Puska is on trial for Ashling’s murder. He has pleaded not guilty.

At today’s sitting of the trial of Jozef Puska, a woman described a man cycling slowly and close to her on the day Ashling Murphy was killed.

Annemarie Kelly told the jury that she first noticed a man who she felt was cycling close to her near to McDonalds in Tullamore on January 12th 2022.

She claims she later saw him again on the Grand Canal.

The trial also heard from paramedics who were called to an apartment in Crumlin the next day, to treat Mr Puska for three stab wounds to his abdomen.

Mr Puska denies murdering the 23-year old-school teacher.

CCTV footage showing some of Ashling Murphy’s last known movements was shown to the jury today in the trial of a man accused of her murder.

33-year-old Jozef Puska, of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh in Co Offaly has pleaded not guilty.

In this episode, Frank outlines the CCTV footage of both Ashling Murphy and Mr Puska on the day she died.

This morning, Detective Garda Ronan Lawlor from the Garda Technical Bureau told the jury about his examination of the scene along the Grand Canal in Tullamore on January 12th, 2022.

Earlier, Paul McCabe, who was the clinical lead with the ambulance service tasked to the scene, gave evidence of their efforts to resuscitate Ashling.

Evidence of the post-mortem examination of Ashling Murphy was heard at the trial of Jozef Puska today.

State Pathologist Sally Anne Collis said Ashling died as a result of stab wounds with a knife or sharp implement, and noted that there were some injuries to Ashling’s fingers which may have been defensive in nature.

The trial also heard how the first gardai on the scene tried CPR and chest compression for 10-15 minutes.

Mr Puska denies murdering Ashling Murphy on the 12th of January 2022.

NOTE: Please note that this episode contains very graphic details from the postmortem, listener discretion is advised.

Today the trial of Jozef Puska heard from a man who discovered Ashling Murphy's body on the day she died. Enda Molloy was the first person to see Ashling Murphy laying in a hedgerow after the alleged attack.

In this episode, Frank outlines the evidence heard from Mr Molloy and seven other witnesses in the trial today, including two women who were running along the canal bank on the afternoon Ashling died.

Mr Puska denies the charge and has pleaded not guilty.

In the first full day of the trial of Jozef Puska, prosecuting barrister Ann Marie Lawlor opened her case before the jury. They were also shown maps and photographs from the stretch of the canal where Ashling Murphy was killed.