Jozef Puska’s relatives now accept jury verdict and will not appeal conviction, court hears

by Fiona Magennis

Jozef Puska’s two brothers, who were last month convicted of withholding crucial information about the murder of school teacher Ashling Murphy, and their wives – who burned the killer’s bloodstained clothes – now accept the jury’s verdict and will not appeal their convictions, the Central Criminal Court has heard.

Lubomir Puska Jnr (38) and Marek Puska (36), along with their wives Viera Gaziova (40) and Jozefina Grundzova (32) appeared before the court today (Monday), where Ms Justice Caroline Biggs fixed a date of October 7 for sentencing in the case.

Jozef Puska (35) murdered Ms Murphy (23) on January 12, 2022, by repeatedly stabbing her in the neck after attacking her while she exercised along the canal towpath outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. He was later convicted of murder and is serving a life sentence.

The four family members were found guilty on June 17 this year, after a jury accepted the prosecution’s case that Lubomir Jnr and Marek misled gardai by failing to disclose crucial and vital information when they gave witness statements, while their wives - Gaziova and Grundzova - burned Jozef's clothes to impede his arrest or prosecution.

All the defendants had pleaded not guilty to all of the charges during the four-week trial. Lubomir Jnr however, had admitted to gardai that he lied in his initial statement, while his wife Viera and sister-in-law Jozefina told gardai that they had burned clothes.

At the Central Criminal Court today, Karl Finnegan SC, representing Marek Puska, said his client now accepts the verdict of the jury and will not be appealing the decision. He said Marek has engaged with the Probation Services and has further meetings scheduled in the coming month.

A barrister representing Lubomir Jnr said her client also accepts the verdict of the jury and is due to meet with the Probation Services on July 9.

Damien Colgan SC, for Gaziova, said it is his understanding that in his client’s case, the verdict is also accepted. He said a social worker is now involved under the auspices of another agency. He said this was going to take some time and asked for a sentence date in October.

Paul Murray SC, for Grundzova, confirmed his client has met with the Probation Services. He said she also accepts the verdict.

A barrister representing Lucia Istokova, Jozef Puska's wife, said her client had pleaded guilty before the commencement of the trial.

Istokova (36) had admitted to withholding information from gardai investigating the murder after a pre-trial hearing.

Ms Justice Biggs said she would extend legal aid for the purpose of preparing psychological reports for any of the defendants, if this was deemed appropriate by counsel.

She said in circumstances where reports were awaited, she could either deal with matters “in one fell swoop” or in two stages.

Mr Murray told the court he thought it would be more expedient to have the matter dealt with in one day.

Ms Justice Biggs adjourned the matter to October 7 for sentence. She said at that point, she hoped to have probation reports, any potential psychological reports and any other reports that are available.

It was the State’s case that the two brothers misled gardaí and withheld “crucial, relevant and significant” information when they gave voluntary interviews in Tullamore two days after Ms Murphy’s death.

This included information that Jozef Puska returned home on the night of the murder with visible injuries, admitted to killing or seriously injuring a woman with a knife and subsequently travelled to Dublin.

All four family members were living with Jozef Puska, his wife Lucia, and 14 children at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, when the offences occurred in January 2022.