Jozef Puska has taken the stand in the Ashling Murphy Murder Trial.

The 33-year-old Slovakian of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, denies murdering the schoolteacher in Tullamore in January 2022.

In evidence, defence counsel Michael Bowman asked him to recall his movements on the morning of January 12th 2022 – the day Ms Murphy died.

He told the jury he travelled into Tullamore from his home in Mucklagh that morning; he recalled seeing a lady walking her dog – later named as Annemarie Kelly – and he denied he was following her.

When asked about CCTV footage showing him behind Ms Kelly, Mr Puska said ‘there was no bad intention whatsoever’, adding that he ‘had no intention to follow anyone at all’.

The father will continue to give evidence tomorrow.