Ashling Murphy murder trial hits ‘speed bump’ and is delayed until Thursday

The Central Criminal Court is “not in a position” to proceed on Wednesday with the trial of the man accused of killing Ashling Murphy, the judge has told the jury.

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.

Judge Tony Hunt told the jury that the trial had met its “first speed bump” and could not continue on Wednesday.

He said: “For reasons I don’t want to go into at the moment, we’re not in a position to proceed.”

The judge said he was “very hopeful” it was a temporary situation.

He said he simply could not go into further detail and “these things happen all the time”.

He told the jury he would have more information for them at 11.15am on Thursday when the trial is due to proceed.