A man confessed to his wife about accidentally killing a primary school teacher, Ashling Murphy. The incident occurred when Murphy was fatally stabbed during her run at the Grand Canal in Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly in Ireland on January 12, 2022.
During a court hearing, Jozef Puska’s wife, Lucia Istokova, revealed that Puska asked her to burn his clothes after the murder, leading to their family’s involvement in the case. Subsequently, Istokova faced charges for withholding information related to the crime.
The court learned that Istokova failed to disclose crucial details to the authorities, such as Puska’s return home with injuries, his admission of harming a woman, and his possession of a bike found at the crime scene. She admitted in a police interview that Puska expressed regret for the killing and urged her to take care of their children.
Istokova pleaded guilty for her involvement in the crime, acknowledging her wrongdoing. Her defense counsel emphasized her remorse and the challenges she faces in raising her children alone. The psychological impact on the children due to their father’s absence was also highlighted.
The sentencing was postponed to await victim impact statements from the Murphy family, scheduled for October 22.