The Ashling Murphy murder trial has heard that the accused admitted involvement in her killing under questioning by Gardaí.

The trial of 33-year-old Josef Puska of Lynally Grove in Mucklagh, County Offaly has opened in the Central Criminal Court this morning.

He has pleaded not guilty to murdering the schoolteacher in January 2022.

In opening the case, the Prosecuting Barrister said Ashling Murphy and the accused man Josef Puska did not know each other.

The 23-year-old schoolteacher was out exercising on the Grand Canal when she was stabbed 11 times in the neck.

The Prosecuting Barrister said the court will hear the accused man was seen on CCTV approaching two women in Tullamore that same morning, his bike was at the scene and his DNA was under Ashling Murphy’s fingernails.

It would also be alleged the accused later told Gardaí in hospital via an interpreter "I did it, I murdered, I am the murderer", before later saying it wasn't intentional.

The case will resume later this afternoon.