A person in a ditch near the realm the place Irish trainer Ashling Murphy was killed informed a girl to “get away”, and gave the impression to be crouched over another person who was kicking “like she was crying for help”, a witness has informed a court docket.
Ms Murphy, 23, was killed whereas she was out exercising alongside a canal in Tullamore, County Offaly, final January.
Jozef Puska, 33, from Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, has pleaded not responsible to killing her.
Speaking on the second day of proof within the trial, Jenna Stack mentioned she was out for a run together with her good friend round 3.15pm on 12 January 2022.
She seen a motorcycle within the ditch and heard “a lot of noise” coming from the close by hedge, Ms Stack informed the court docket, and mentioned “it was like someone was struggling, to be honest”, including she first believed somebody had fallen off their bike.
Ms Stack additionally informed the court docket she stepped in nearer and will see somebody’s again, and so they had been sporting what gave the impression to be a “navy bombed padded jacket” with an emblem.
She mentioned she noticed somebody who seemed to be crouched over another person, and gave the impression to be “holding her down”.
“His face, his teeth were grinding, and he shouted ‘get away’,” Ms Stack informed the court docket.
“The lady, she was mendacity on the bottom, and he or she was kicking so onerous, like she was crying out for assist.
“She was moving whatever part of her body she could to get help,” she mentioned, including that she had made no sound.
Ms Stack mentioned she was scared he was going to rape her, and informed him she would name the Gardai, telling the court docket the interplay lasted round 30 seconds.
Defence barrister Michael Bowman SC recommended the individual seen crouching on the day of Ms Murphy’s demise could have been making an attempt to “assist”, telling the court docket Puska can recall an interplay with Ms Stack however couldn’t hear what she was saying.
Mr Bowman additionally mentioned his shopper had not aggressively known as out, however as an alternative was in ache, after reducing his legs on thorny bushes.
He additionally recommended to the witness Ms Murphy’s fingers may have been on Puska’s arms, whereas he tried to cease the bleeding. She replied she didn’t see that, and that the lady was kicking her legs.
“That was her cry for help,” she informed the court docket.
Ms Stack additionally mentioned whereas she didn’t select Puska from a suspect line-up, the individual she picked seemed “similar”.
Mr Bowman mentioned a number of facets had been accepted by Puska, together with that Ms Murphy was introduced from the canal walkway to hospital till she was recognized, and that he accepted the reason for demise conclusion.
The trial continues.
Source: information.sky.com”