Latest news with #Grundzova
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Jozef Puska's sisters-in-law could not have known about murder when they burned clothes, court hears
Jozef Puska's sisters-in-law could not have known and did not believe he murdered Ashling Murphy when they burned the clothes he was wearing at the time he murdered the schoolteacher, defence lawyers have told the Central Criminal Court . Lawyers for Jozefina Grundzova (32) and Viera Gaziova (40) delivered their closing speeches to a jury on Tuesday afternoon. The two women are on trial with their husbands, Marek Puska (36) and Lubomir Puska jnr (38). Jozef Puska, a brother of Marek and Lubomir jnr, murdered Ms Murphy (23) on January 12th, 2022 by stabbing her on the canal towpath outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. Marek and Lubomir jnr are on trial accused of withholding information relating to the murder while Ms Grundzova and Ms Gaziova are accused of impeding Puska's apprehension or prosecution by burning his clothes. READ MORE All accused have pleaded not guilty to all charges. They were all living with Puska, his partner Lucia, and 14 children at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly when the offences are alleged to have occurred. The trial heard that in a statement to gardaí, Ms Gaziova said that on the night of the murder, Lubomir jnr and Marek spoke to Puska in his bedroom and afterwards, Lubomir jnr told her that Puska had 'confessed that he killed a girl'. Paul Murray SC, for Ms Grundzova, on Tuesday told the jury that for his client to be guilty, the jury must be satisfied that she knew what Puska had done when she helped Ms Gaziova to burn the clothes. Counsel told the jury that 'hindsight is a wonderful thing' but they must look at the circumstances in the Puska household in the immediate aftermath of the murder. When his client burned Puska's clothes, she did not have any of the evidence that would later prove his guilt, Mr Murray said. The nub of the prosecution case, counsel said, is that Ms Grundzova knew or believed Puska to be guilty of the murder at a time when gardaí had arrested a different person. Mr Murray asked the jury to return a verdict of not guilty. Prosecutor Anne Marie Lawlor SC previously told the jury that all the accused knew what Puska had done shortly after 9.30pm on the night of the murder. She said Jozef told Lubomir jnr and Marek, who then relayed it to the others in the house. Ms Lawlor said the only reason for the withholding of evidence or burning of clothes was that they didn't want Puska to be apprehended or prosecuted for murder. Damien Colgan SC, for Ms Gaziova, told the jury that the 'crux of the case' is whether his client knew that Puska had stabbed Ms Murphy. Her view at that time, Mr Colgan said, was that Puska had been the victim of an assault. When she was told what Puska had said he did, she didn't believe it because she 'didn't believe Jozef was capable of killing anybody'. Kathleen Leader SC, for Lubomir jnr, said her client delayed but did not withhold information. She said he had a reasonable excuse for the delay and asked the jury to consider the 'natural sense of protection for his younger brother'. She said it is understandable he was reluctant to accept his brother had 'committed a truly horrific murder'. Ms Leader said that by January 18th, Lubomir jnr was 'squarely supporting the prosecution', telling them everything he knew. Ms Leader said the law does not require people to be 'superhuman' as she asked the jury to acquit her client. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs has begun her charge to the jury and will continue tomorrow.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Jozef Puska's sister-in-law said she burned clothes day after Aishling Murphy murder, trial hears
Jozef Puska 's sister-in-law told gardaí that she and another family member burned clothes, including a bloodstained T-shirt, the day after schoolteacher Ashling Murphy was murdered, a trial has heard. Jozef Puska (35) attacked Ms Murphy (23) on the canal towpath at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly on January 12th, 2022 and was later convicted of her murder. She died having suffered 12 sharp force injuries to her neck, 11 of which were stab wounds. Jozefina Grundzova (32), who is married to Jozef's brother Marek Puska (36), is charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Jozef by assisting in burning his clothes. Viera Gaziova (40), who is married to Jozef's other brother Lubomir Puska jnr (38), is charged with the same offence. READ MORE Lubomir jnr and Marek are charged with withholding information from detectives investigating Ms Murphy's murder. All the accused were living with Jozef, his wife Lucia, and 14 children at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly when the offences are alleged to have occurred in January 2022. All accused have pleaded not guilty to all charges. At the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday, Det Garda James Duffy gave evidence to counsel for the State, Kevin White BL, that during garda interview, Ms Grundzova told gardaí that co-accused Ms Gaziova received a phone call telling her to burn certain clothes. She said these were 'maybe Jozef's clothes' and it was Ms Gaziova who lit the fire on January 13th. Ms Grundzova told gardaí that Ms Gaziova was 'throwing clothes into the fire', which she may have taken out of a bag. She said that she herself she took socks out of the bag and threw them into the fire. She said she did not know why these clothes were burned, but she noticed there was 'blood around the lower half of the T-shirt'. 'Viera told me she got a call that the clothes needed to be burned,' she said. Presiding judge Ms Justice Caroline Biggs told the jury of seven men and five women that they will not be required again until Monday, June 9th, when the trial will resume.
BreakingNews.ie
6 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Jozef Puska's sister-in-law said bloodstained T-shirt was burned, trial hears
Jozef Puska's sister-in-law told gardaí that she and another family member burned clothes, including a bloodstained T-shirt, the day after school teacher Ashling Murphy was murdered, a trial has heard. Jozef Puska (35) attacked Ms Murphy (23) on the canal towpath at Cappincur in Tullamore on January 12th, 2022 and was later convicted of her murder. She died having suffered 12 sharp force injuries to her neck, eleven of which were stab wounds. Advertisement Jozefina Grundzova (32), who is married to Jozef's brother Marek Puska (36), is charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Jozef Puska by assisting in burning his clothes. Viera Gaziova (40), who is married to Jozef's other brother Lubomir Puska Jnr (38), is charged with the same offence. Lubomir Jnr and Marek are charged with withholding information from detectives investigating Ms Murphy's murder. All the accused were living with Jozef Puska, his wife Lucia, and 14 children at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly when the offences are alleged to have occurred in January 2022. All accused have pleaded not guilty to all charges. Lubomir Puska and Viera Gaziona. Photo: Collins At the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday, Detective Garda James Duffy gave evidence to counsel for the State, Kevin White BL, that during garda interview, Ms Grundzova told gardaí that co-accused Ms Gaziova received a phone call telling her to burn certain clothes. Advertisement She said that these were 'maybe Jozef's clothes' and it was Ms Gaziova who lit the fire on January 13th. Ireland Jozef Puska's brother couldn't tell gardaí more be... Read More Ms Grundzova told gardaí that Ms Gaziova was 'throwing clothes into the fire', which she may have taken out of a bag. She said that she herself took socks out of the bag and threw them into the fire. She said she did not know why these clothes were burned, but she noticed there was 'blood around the lower half of the T-shirt". 'Viera told me she got a call that the clothes needed to be burned,' she said. Presiding judge Ms Justice Caroline Biggs told the jury of seven men and five women that they will not be required again until next Monday, June 9th, when the trial will resume.
