Ashling Murphy trial: Man crouched over ‘kicking lady’ in a ditch and informed witness to ‘get away’, court docket hears

A person in a ditch near the realm the place Irish instructor Ashling Murphy was killed informed a girl to “get away”, and seemed to be crouched over another person who was kicking “like she was crying for help”, a witness has informed a court docket.

Ms Murphy, 23, was killed while she was out exercising alongside a canal in Tullamore, County Offaly, final January.

Jozef Puska, 33, from Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, has pleaded not guilty to killing her.

Speaking on the second day of proof within the trial, Jenna Stack mentioned she was out for a run together with her buddy round 3.15pm on 12 January 2022.

She seen a motorcycle within the ditch and heard “a lot of noise” coming from the close by hedge, Ms Stack informed the court docket, and mentioned “it was like someone was struggling, to be honest”, including she first believed somebody had fallen off their bike.

Ms Stack additionally informed the court docket she stepped in nearer and will see somebody’s again, they usually have been carrying what seemed to be a “navy bombed padded jacket” with an emblem.

She mentioned she noticed somebody who crouched over another person, and seemed to be “holding her down”.

“His face, his teeth were grinding, and he shouted ‘get away’,” Ms Stack informed the court docket.

“The lady, she was mendacity on the bottom, and she or he was kicking so laborious, like she was crying out for assist.

“She was moving whatever part of her body she could to get help,” she mentioned, including that she had made no sound.

Ms Stack mentioned she was scared he was going to rape her, and informed him she would name the Gardai, telling the court docket the interplay lasted round 30 seconds.

Defence barrister Michael Bowman SC advised the particular person seen crouching on the day of Ms Murphy’s loss of life could have been attempting to “assist”, telling the court docket Puska can recall an interplay with Ms Stack however couldn’t hear what she was saying.

Mr Bowman additionally mentioned his shopper had not aggressively known as out, however as an alternative was in ache, after slicing his legs on thorny bushes.

He additionally advised to the witness Ms Murphy’s fingers may have been on Puska’s arms, whereas he tried to cease the bleeding. She replied she didn’t see that, and that the lady was kicking her legs.

“That was her cry for help,” she informed the court docket.

Ms Stack additionally mentioned whereas she didn’t select Puska from a suspect line-up, the particular person she picked regarded “similar”.

Mr Bowman mentioned a number of features have been accepted by Puska, together with that Ms Murphy was introduced from the canal walkway to hospital till she was recognized, and that he accepted the reason for loss of life conclusion.

The trial continues.