A person in a ditch near the world the place Irish trainer Ashling Murphy was killed informed a lady to “get away”, and gave the impression to be crouched over another person who was kicking “like she was crying for assist”, a witness has informed a courtroom.
Ms Murphy, 23, was killed while she was out exercising alongside a canal in Tullamore, County Offaly, final January.
Jozef Puska, 33, from Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, has pleaded not guilty to killing her.
Talking on the second day of proof within the trial, Jenna Stack stated she was out for a run together with her pal round 3.15pm on 12 January 2022.
She observed a motorbike within the ditch and heard “a whole lot of noise” coming from the close by hedge, Ms Stack informed the courtroom, and stated “it was like somebody was struggling, to be sincere”, including she first believed somebody had fallen off their bike.
Ms Stack additionally informed the courtroom she stepped in nearer and will see somebody’s again, they usually had been sporting what gave the impression to be a “navy bombed padded jacket” with an emblem.
She stated she noticed somebody who crouched over another person, and gave the impression to be “holding her down”.
“His face, his enamel had been grinding, and he shouted ‘get away’,” Ms Stack informed the courtroom.
“The woman, she was mendacity on the bottom, and he or she was kicking so arduous, like she was crying out for assist.
“She was transferring no matter a part of her physique she may to get assist,” she stated, including that she had made no sound.
Ms Stack stated she was scared he was going to rape her, and informed him she would name the Gardai, telling the courtroom the interplay lasted round 30 seconds.
Defence barrister Michael Bowman SC urged the particular person seen crouching on the day of Ms Murphy’s dying could have been making an attempt to “help”, telling the courtroom Puska can recall an interplay with Ms Stack however couldn’t hear what she was saying.
Mr Bowman additionally stated his shopper had not aggressively known as out, however as an alternative was in ache, after slicing his legs on thorny bushes.
He additionally urged to the witness Ms Murphy’s palms 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 assist,” she informed the courtroom.
Ms Stack additionally stated whereas she didn’t select Puska from a suspect line-up, the particular person she picked appeared “comparable”.
Mr Bowman stated 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 dying conclusion.
The trial continues.