The trial of a man accused of murdering Ashling Murphy in Co Offaly last year, due to start next month, has been postponed until the autumn.
Jozef Puska, 32, of Lynally Grove, Mucklach, County Offaly, is accused of murdering the 23-year-old primary school teacher on 12 January 2022, reports RTE.
Ms Murphy was fatally attacked while jogging on a stretch of the Grand Canal just outside Tullamore.
Mr Puska, who was in court this morning, was due to appear before the Central Criminal Court on June 7. The process is expected to take three weeks.
However, Ms Anne Marie Lawlor SC, Prosecutor, informed Judge Paul McDermott that the prosecution would need time to respond and receive another report as the State had received an expert report from the defence.
Mr Michael Bowman SC, representing Mr Puska, said the defense could not oppose the prosecution’s request.
Ms Lawlor said the crime involved the murder of a young woman, her family hoped the case would be brought forward in June and were keen for the matter to be brought forward “in early course”, reports RTE.
Mr Bowman said he expected evidence at the trial to take three weeks. Ms Lawlor said the preliminary hearing will last a week.
When Judge McDermott asked if there was an expectation of “an earlier report”, Ms Lawlor replied that there was not.
The attorney said the state must appoint an appropriate expert to prepare the report, which should be completed by mid- to late-July.
The case is due to return to the Central Criminal Court on July 21 for a pre-trial date to be set.
The judge also set a new hearing date for October 2.
Judge McDermott agreed with a defense motion to renew a request for a Slovak interpreter for the new hearing, reports RTE.
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