Ashling Murphy’s murder trial hears evidence will feature maps and CCTV footage

The jury was told there was no prior connection ‘of any kind’ between the teacher and murder-accused Jozef Puska.

The case surrounding the death of Ashling Murphy was outlined to the jury at Dublin’s Criminal Courts of Justice on Tuesday (Julien Behal/PA) (PA Archive)

A court has heard the evidence the prosecution will present during the trial of a man accused of murdering an Irish teacher last year.

Ashling Murphy, 23, was killed while out jogging along a canal in Tullamore, Co Offaly, last January.

Jozef Puska, 33, whose address was given as Lynally Grove in Tullamore, Co Offaly, has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Outlining the case to the jury at Dublin’s Criminal Courts of Justice on Tuesday, senior counsel for the prosecution Anne-Marie Lawlor said “quite a number” of maps, CCTV footage and witness testimony would feature in the case.

She said Ms Murphy was stabbed 11 times to the right side of her neck, and had other injuries that may have been defensive injuries.

She told the court there was no prior connection “of any kind” between Ms Murphy and Mr Puska.

She said the jury would be shown pictures of Mr Puska’s hands with cuts and scratches, taken by Gardai while Mr Puska was receiving treatment in St James’s Hospital in Dublin.

She said he “made up a pack of lies” to Gardai about being involved in a stabbing in Blanchardstown.

Judge Tony Hunt outlined the obligations a jury has and that the defendant needed to be viewed as protected by the presumption of innocence.