Rostislav Pokuta, a friend of the man accused of murdering schoolteacher Ashling Murphy, testified in the Central Criminal Court that Jozef Puska appeared at his house on the night of the murder, looking battered and reluctant to discuss the events. Pokuta, who provided Mr. Puska a lift home, expressed concern about Puska’s physical state but received little information. Mr. Puska, denying the murder charge, allegedly mentioned having been in a fight or some altercation in town.
Detective Garda Ciaran Byrne presented the court with detailed analysis of Fitbit data from Ashling Murphy’s watch, shedding light on her activities leading up to her tragic death. The Fitbit tracked consistent data from around 3 pm on the day she was killed until just after 3:20 pm. The data revealed her brisk walk along the Grand Canal in Tullamore, with graphs depicting pace, altitude, direction, and heart rate. The heart rate graph indicated a sudden decrease at 3:21 pm, coinciding with a change in her movement described as “violently fluctuating.”
Gardaí provided testimony related to Jozef Puska’s injuries and subsequent hospital visit. Garda Keith Brennan spoke to Mr. Puska’s cousin, who indicated that Puska had been stabbed and was from the Tullamore area. Puska claimed he had been involved in a fight in Blanchardstown but was vague about details. Sergeant Paul McDonnell reported visible cuts on Puska’s hands and face, and efforts to obtain information from the hospital were met with resistance.
Rostislav Pokuta admitted omitting information about Puska’s visit to his house initially, citing fear for his family amid heightened tensions in the aftermath of Ashling Murphy’s murder.
The trial continues
