The successful prosecution of three members of the family of Jozef Puska for withholding information concerning his murder of Ashling Murphy may encourage more such prosecutions, lawyers believe. The outcome of the Puska family case could act as a deterrent to others against withholding information on serious crime, he added. Istokova pleaded guilty before the trial to withholding information. A landmark Supreme Court decision six years ago may have encouraged the DPP to proceed with the withholding information charge. He was not told his failure to respond to questioning could lead to a separate charge of withholding information.
