Killer Jozef Puska is confident he will be back on the streets soon and that his conviction for the murder of teacher Ashling Murphy will be quashed.
He has been telling fellow inmates in the Midlands Prison, where he is serving a life sentence, that he will win his forthcoming appeal and that he didn’t do it.
It is the third anniversary of Ashling’s death this Sunday and a memorial walk in her honour will take place along the Grand Canal in her home town of Tullamore, Co Offaly where she lost her life in a crime that shocked the nation.
Puska’s case is due to be heard before the three-judge court of appeal in Dublin in the next few months.
The 36-year-old Slovakian and his legal team will argue a confession he made to Gardai on his hospital bed two days after the murder that he killed Ashling, 23, was not admissible and should not have been put before the jury by the trial judge Tony Hunt.
Puska told the Garda officers while recovering from self-inflicted stab wounds at St James Hospital: “I am the murderer.” He also made expressions of regret and remorse over Ashling’s death.
Jozef Puska killed teacher Ashling Murphy in 2022
(Image: No credit)
He later said he didn’t remember saying any of it or that he told detectives “I cut her neck” even though the results of the postmortem had not been released publicly at that stage.
The postmortem results later confirmed she died from 12 blunt-forced wounds to the neck.
The unemployed father-of-five’s lawyers claim he should never have been interviewed, was high on medication and had just come out of surgery. He was also taking oxycodone painkillers at the time and had difficulties understanding English.
Sources in the Midlands Prison say Puska has been telling everyone he is going to win his case. A source said: “He is putting all his energy into his appeal and genuinely believes he will be freed and reunited with his family by the summer.”
Jozef Puska, 33, in the dock in 2023
(Image: No credit)
“He is adamant he didn’t kill Ashling when all the evidence proves otherwise. He claims he never made any confession and has no memory of it because he was out of it on drugs.”
“He is a real Walter Mitty who makes up stories as he goes along.”
It is understood Puska is now openly mixing with other prisoners. He is regularly visited by his wife and legal team.
Puska was given the mandatory life sentence in Ireland for murder, which is around 20 years. If he does not win his appeal, Puska cannot be released without Ashling’s family being contacted by the Independent Parole Board first and they will be allowed to have their say.
Jozef Puska never gave the murder trial a reason why he attacked and killed Ashling while she was out jogging.
He had one previous conviction for having underage sex with a girlfriend in Slovakia. Because he is a sex offender, he could not serve his life sentence in Mountjoy Prison which the authorities originally planned.
Meanwhile a mass for Ashling will be held this Sunday, January 12, in Mountbolus followed afterwards by a walk on the Grand Canal between Tullamore and Cappincur.
A post on the Ashling Murphy Facebook page reads: “We wish to invite you to join us in remembering and celebrating Aisling’s life at her 3th anniversary Mass which will take place on Sunday, Jan 12 at 10am in St Brigid’s Church, Mountbolus.”
“A commemorative walk will take place on Sunday afternoon to Ashling’s Memorial Shrine on the Grand Canal, Tullamore. Meeting at Digby Bridge Carpark, Cappincur at 3pm. Anyone walking along the canal from the Tullamore side may meet at the memorial shrine at 3.15pm.”
“People planning to participate in the walk are advised that it is about 20-25 minutes if one begins at the Fiona Pender memorial. Please join us as we remember our beloved Ashling on her 3rd anniversary.”
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