Joseph Puska was found guilty of murdering teacher Ashling Murphy in a random attack on the Grand Canal in Tullamore in January last year, reports RTE.
After a trial lasting just over three weeks, the jury at the Central Criminal Court returned a unanimous guilty verdict.
He will be sentenced to life in prison at the end of this month after hearing the victim’s testimony, reports RTE.
Jurors found a 33-year-old father of five from Slovakia guilty of murdering a 23-year-old primary school teacher by accidentally stabbing him on January 12, 2022, while walking along the Grand Canal.
After the jury returned its verdict, Judge Tony Hunt said it was unusual to lose a child and “we have evil in this room”, reports RTE.
The judge said this did not reflect the people who had to defend Puska. He said that it’s really hard work and everyone has the right to put forward a thread like this defence.
The judge said the loss of a child was unusual. However, he said the Murphy family’s position was unquestionable.
The way their children were taken away, he said, was enough to make them physically ill.
“We have evil in this room. No doubt about that,” Mr Justice Hunt said, reports RTE.
Puska’s family was upset and furious. His father spoke loudly in Slovak.
An elderly woman holding a small cross waved to the crowd and said, “everyone in this room, Jesus”, reports RTE.
Pushkar will be sentenced on November 17.
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