Puska found guilty of Ashling Murphy's murder

A jury has found Jozef Puska guilty of the murder of Ashling Murphy.

Puska (33), with an address at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, had pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Murphy at Cappincur, Tullamore, on January 12, last year.

The jury of nine men and three women returned a unanimous verdict shortly after 2.15pm today.

The jury had been sent home on Wednesday evening, at 4pm, after spending 25 minutes in deliberations, and returned on Thursday morning before giving its verdict, shortly after lunch.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt had completed his charge on Wednesday, having told the jury that their verdict must be unanimous. He urged all twelve to participate in the discussion and to look at the evidence coldly and clinically and to come to their verdict based only on the evidence they have heard.

He told them that if they are satisfied that there is no reasonable view of the case consistent with Mr Puska's innocence then they must convict "in a clear-eyed fashion". If the prosecution has not brought them beyond suspicion or probabilities, then they must acquit "in an equally unemotional, clear-eyed way".

He added: "If you acquit, it doesn't mean you think he [Mr Puska] is a great guy or that there isn't a heavy aroma of suspicion. It simply means you are not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt and his presumption of innocence remains. If it has been removed and you are satisfied of that beyond a reasonable doubt, then so be it."

Having heard the charge, the jury requested a transcript of Mr Puska's testimony to the court and a transcript of the evidence of witness Jenna Stack. The jury also received a transcript of the evidence of State Pathologist Dr SallyAnne Collis and witness Aoife Marron who was running with Ms Stack.