Man appears in court charged with Ashling Murphy murder
A 31-year-old has been charged with the murder of Ashling Murphy in Ireland.
Jozef Puska was accused of killing the teacher, 23, during a special sitting of Tullamore District Court on Wednesday night.
He was remanded in custody at Cloverhill Prison after the brief hearing, and was heckled as he was taken from a police car into the court.
Puska, of Tullamore, County Offaly, was wearing a grey jumper and grey tracksuit bottom and is a Slovakian national.
It comes as a second man, arrested in connection with the case under the provisions of Section 30 Offences Against the State Act 1939, was released without charge.
The body of Ms Murphy, a talented musician and teacher, was found on the banks of the Grand Canal in Tullamore last Wednesday.
Detective Sergeant David Scahill gave evidence of the arrest and charge, telling the court the accused was charged with murder at 7.42pm on Wednesday.
Mr Scahill told the court that when he was charged with the offence, Puska replied: ‘No.’
A number of family members were stood in court with framed pictures of Ms Murphy.
It comes after a crowd of around 40 people walked along the canal today, close to where her body was found, to mark one week since her murder.
On Tuesday, large crowds had gathered in the village of Mountbolus and outside St Brigid’s Church, where her funeral was held.
Mourners included Irish president Michael D Higgins and Irish premier Micheal Martin.
Vigils have been held across Ireland and the world to remember Ms Murphy and to call for a change in tackling gender-based violence.
Defence solicitor Eoin Lysaght made an application for legal aid and for the services of an interpreter for the future court appearance.
District Judge Catherine Staines remanded Puska in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on January 26.
A file is being prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
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MORE : Children taught by Ashling Murphy form guard of honour as funeral begins