Gardaí need more time to prepare book of evidence for Ashling Murphy case

The 31-year-old has been charged with murdering Ashling Murphy.

Gardaí have asked for more time to prepare a book of evidence for the Ashling Murphy murder trial. Earlier this week, 31-year-old Jozef Puska was further remanded in custody. Jozef Puska has been charged with murdering the 23-year-old teacher. He is set to face trial by judge and jury at the Central Criminal Court, but Gardaí are still preparing the book of evidence. Puska appeared before Judge Victor Blake in Cloverhill District Court on Wednesday, March 23rd. He attended the hearing via video link. Speaking about the evidence, Court Garda sergeant Olwyn Murphy said the book was "still in preparation". She added that some of the reports were still outstanding. Judge Blake stressed that "every effort should be made to expedite the book of evidence". Puska will remain in Garda custody until the next hearing on April 6th. He has been charged with the murder of 23-year-old Ashling Murphy. The primary school teacher was brutally attacked and killed while out jogging on January 12th. She was killed on the Grand Canal in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. The teacher's parents was remembered as caring and "a special girl". "She was just a special girl. She’s the youngest, a little angel. She was a brilliant girl in every sense of the word," he added. Her family said Ashling "crammed so much into her short life". “She was a great worker, with great drive. A marvelous musician. She played with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí all over Ireland and all over the UK on the tours. She was in their youth choir and senior orchestra."