Ashling Murphy suspect in court charged with murder after teacher, 23, killed on run
A DAD has today appeared in court charged with murdering a primary school teacher who was killed while out running.
Ashling Murphy, 23, died after being attacked while exercising along a canal in Tullamore, Ireland, and Jozef Puska, 31, has been charged with her murder.
Puska spoke only to confirm his name through a Slovakian interpreter at Cloverhill District Court via video link.
He removed his facemask and spoke briefly to state his name and confirm he could see and hear the proceedings.
The dad-of-three is accused of killing the schoolteacher as she was out running, and sparked a massive manhunt before being arrested at a hospital.
A police sergeant told the court that the director of public prosecutions is preparing a book of evidence.
Solicitor Roy O'Neill agreed to a two-week adjournment and said the services of an interpreter were required at the next court hearing on February 9.
Puska has also been granted legal aid, with District Judge Victor Blake remanding him in custody.
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A second man arrested under Section 30 Offences Against the State Act 1939 was released without charge last week.
Talented musician Ashling, who worked at Durrow National School, was running along a well-known route when she was targeted.
Emotional tributes have flooded in since her death, with hundreds of mourners gathering in the village of Mountbolus and outside St Brigid's Church, where her funeral was held on Tuesday.
The priest said Ashling's family had been robbed of their "most precious gift".
Amy described her sister as "the light of our lives and the heart of our family".
Ashling's grief-stricken partner Ryan Casey also paid a graveside tribute to his girlfriend, declaring: "She will always be my soulmate."
He went on to describe his girlfriend of five years as a "shining light" and the "greatest love of my life".
Vigils have been held across Ireland and the world to remember Ashling and to call for a change in tackling gender-based violence.
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