Jozef Puska pleads not guilty to murder of Ashling Murphy

Before the 12 jurors were sworn in, the judge told the jury panel that the case had attracted 'more than the usual share of publicity'

Jozef Puska (pictured, centre) spent some time in St James's Hospital in Dublin, the judge said. File picture

A 33-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to the murder of school teacher Ashling Murphy and will go on trial for up to five weeks at the Central Criminal Court.

A jury of three women and nine men was sworn on Monday afternoon to hear the trial one year and nine months after 23-year-old Ms Murphy is alleged to have been murdered near the Grand Canal in Tullamore.