The man accused of killing Ashling Murphy began giving evidence at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on Thursday.
Ms Murphy (23) was killed while exercising on a canal path in Tullamore, Co Offaly, at about 3.30pm on January 12 last year.
Jozef Puska (33), of Lynally Grove in Mucklagh, Tullamore, has pleaded not guilty to the schoolteacher’s murder.
After the prosecution formally closed its case on Thursday, defence counsel Michael Bowman SC called Puska to the witness box.
He was sworn in on the bible with the assistance of an interpreter.
Mr Bowman initially asked Puska about his family and background.
Puska, through the interpreter, said he was 33 and originally from the Poprad area of Slovakia.
He said he had arrived in Ireland in 2013 and was living with his family in Mucklagh, outside Tullamore in 2022.
Mr Bowman then asked Puska to account for his movements on January 12th, 2022, the day Ms Murphy died.
Through an interpreter, Puska said: “On the 12th of January, I left my house around half eleven on my push bike. I travelled from Mucklagh towards Tullamore.”
Mr Bowman asked Puska to account for his movements with the assistance of maps which were provided to him.
In his answer, he acknowledged he had passed CCTV cameras that had been referenced in the trial.
“I continued different routes. I do not recall which way I went to because I was trying to find my brother.
“I knew that he went with his wife to the dentist and, therefore, I was trying to locate him towards the hospital and anywhere there was a big car park because I was trying to locate my brother’s car. That’s why I found myself in some locations twice.”
Puska said he was not certain what time he arrived in Tullamore, but said it was perhaps 12.15pm.
He was shown a photo of a green and black Falconstorm bicycle and said that was his bike.
Mr Bowman asked the defendant if he had encountered a woman with a dog on his journey.
Puska replied, through the interpreter: “Somewhere after McDonald's I passed this lady with the dog.”
Mr Bowman said this woman had been identified as Ann Marie Kelly and that she thought he was following her.
Puska said: “Not at all, this was not my intention at all – that I was following her.”
Mr Bowman said CCTV footage showed that Puska was behind her.
The witness said: “This is the truth, I was behind her but there was no bad intention whatsoever. I was riding the same way, I was riding all around town. I had no intention to follow anybody at all.”
Puska said after passing the woman with the dog he continued towards a grassy area near the canal car park.
He said he came off his bicycle, that he was pushing the bike and lit a cigarette.
Puska’s evidence was paused at 4pm as the court finished for the day.
Earlier in the trial, Detective Garda Colin O’Leary went through memorandums of five interviews with Puska held on January 18th and 19th, after his arrest.
The jury was told that when he was asked about the murder of Ms Murphy, Puska replied: “I don’t know anything about that.”
The interviews were conducted at Tullamore Garda Station in the presence of an interpreter and Puska’s solicitor.
Puska was shown a picture of Ms Murphy and asked if he knew her.
Taking questions from prosecuting barrister Kevin White, Mr O’Leary said Puska replied: “I didn’t see her, I don’t know her.”
The jury was told Puska also told interviewing gardai: “I never saw her. First on this picture.”
During the third interview, Puska was shown the picture of Ms Murphy again and reportedly said: “I never seen that person, I don’t recognise her, no.”
Mr O’Leary told the court that Puska said he had never had any contact with Ms Murphy.
During the fourth interview, Puska said he did not remember speaking to gardai from Crumlin and Blanchardstown while in St James’s Hospital before his arrest, Mr O’Leary said.
Puska also said he did not remember gardaí taking notes during an interview or the execution of a warrant.
The court heard that Puska was recorded as replying: “I don’t remember much, I was after surgery and many tablets.”
He said the person having the conversation must have noticed.
It was put to the defendant in interview that a huge amount of evidence puts him at the scene.
Puska said he did not accept that.
In the fifth interview, gardai explained to Puska that they were invoking legislation which allowed them to ask questions that a court or jury could draw inferences from if he failed or refused to answer.
It was explained to him that he could not be convicted solely on inference but it could be used to corroborate other evidence.
Puska was asked to account for his possession of a mountain bike found at the scene where Ms Murphy’s body was discovered, which could be linked to him through DNA on the handlebars and a fingerprint on the seat.
He was also told he was observed on CCTV in Tullamore with the bike and his explanation may be attributable to the commission of the murder of Ms Murphy.
The records show Puska replied: “I’m not giving an explanation to this.”
The defendant was also asked to account for his DNA being found under Ms Murphy’s fingernails when he had said during interviews that he did not have contact with her.
Puska replied: “I will not comment on that.”
Gardaí also asked him about scratches on his hands and forehead which had been observed on January 13.
Puska repeated: “I will not comment on that.”
Asked to account for his presence at the location where Ms Murphy’s body was discovered at Grand Canal Way in Cappincur, he said: “I don’t want to comment on that, no.”
Gardaí also offered him an opportunity to mention facts he may later rely on for his defence, saying that a failure or refusal to do so could be used to support other evidence.
“I will not comment on this,” he replied.
Puska also told interviewing gardai he lived with his wife in a big house in Mucklagh and that he had a “beautiful” relationship with his five children.
He said he had a pension after suffering a slipped disk while working on a building site.
He added that his back problem means he cannot work and he has problems moving and lifting heavy things.
Puska said it also affected his ability to run and engage in sports with his children, adding that he takes painkillers for the injury.
The trial continues on Friday.
