The trial of the man accused of killing Ashling Murphy has heard that he told gardai during his detention that he did not “know anything” about her murder.
Ms Murphy 23, was killed while exercising on a canal path in Tullamore, Co Offaly, at about 3.30pm on January 12 last year.
Jozef Puska, 33, of Lynally Grove in Mucklagh, Tullamore, has pleaded not guilty to the schoolteacher’s murder.
At the trial in Dublin Central Criminal Court, Detective Garda Colin O’Leary went through memorandums of interview conducted with Puska following his arrest on 18 January.
The jury was told that when asked about the murder of Ms Murphy, Puska replied: “I don’t know anything about that.”
In the first of the five interviews conducted at Tullamore Garda Station, Mr O’Leary said Puska was cautioned in the presence of his solicitor and an interpreter.
The detective garda also said Puska indicated that he had understood his rights during the January 18 questioning.
Asked about the murder of Ms Murphy on January 12, Puska replied: “I don’t know.”
At the time, Puska told him he was 32 and from a village in the area of Poprad, Slovakia.
He said he did not finish secondary education and left Slovakia for Bratislava when he was 16.
He also lived in Prague in the Czech Republic before moving to Dublin in 2013, then settling in Tullamore in 2015.
Puska said he lived with his wife in a big house in Mucklagh and that he had a “beautiful” relationship with his five children.
The defendant told interviewing gardai that he had a pension after suffering from a slipped disk from working on a building site.
He said his back problem means he cannot work and that he has problems with moving and lifting heavy things.
Puska said it also affected his ability to run and engage in sports with his children, adding that he takes painkillers for the injury.
He said he did not drive and would take a taxi or bus “most of the time” to travel.
He said in his typical day he spends time with his children, takes them to school or helps with chores in the house.
In the second interview, the defendant was told Ms Murphy was killed during a period he was missing.
Puska was recorded to have replied: “I don’t know anything about that.”
Asked if he knew anything about the murder, Mr O’Leary said the defendant replied: “I don’t know anything.”
Puska was shown a picture of Ms Murphy and asked if he knew her.
Taking questions from prosecuting barrister Kevin White, Mr O’Leary said Puska replied: “I didn’t see her, I don’t know her.”
The jury was told Puska also told interviewing gardai: “I never saw her. First on this picture.”
Puska’s detention was suspended between 11.37pm on January 18 and approximately 8am on January 19 to allow for a rest period.
Earlier, Inspector Ian McPhillips went through a PowerPoint presentation, which was also to be provided to the jury as a booklet of printed slides, that showed Puska’s movements through Tullamore on January 12.
The presentation included maps superimposed with annotations and stills from CCTV cameras from around Tullamore and the Grand Canal area.
It was explained to the jury that the slides were in chronological order and were a summary of evidence provided to them earlier in the trial.
The presentation also showed the movement of Ms Murphy along the canal, annotated with data from her Fitbit.
The jury was told again that the Fitbit data showed erratic movement and that the recording of her heartbeat decreased until it did not record any value.
Superintendent Patrick O’Callaghan was also asked by defence barrister Michael Bowman SC if gardai had received an email on January 17 2022 from another man claiming to be the person responsible for Ms Murphy’s death.
Mr O’Callaghan explained the IP address of the sender was traced and he was interviewed by gardai who were satisfied the man had mental health difficulties and had no involvement in the killing.
The trial continues.
