Ashley Dale's killers given 173 years behind bars for 'senseless' murder

Ashley Dale's murderers are sentenced

Ashley Dale's killers were jailed for a total of 173 years today.

The environmental health worker was killed when gunman James Witham, 41, forced his way into her home in Old Swan, Liverpool, in the early hours of August 21 last year and opened fire with a Skorpion submachine gun.

At Liverpool Crown Court, Witham was today jailed for a minimum of 43 years. Niall Barry, 26, who was described by the prosecution as the "malign presence" behind Ms Dale's killing, was sentenced to a minimum term of 47 years.

Joseph Peers, 29, said to be a "foot soldier" who drove Witham to the scene, was sentenced to at least 41 years and Sean Zeisz, 28, who was accused of organising and encouraging the attack with Barry, was told to serve a minimum of 42 years.

Witham momentarily walked out of the dock as Ashley Dale's mother delivered an emotional statement during the hearing today.

This concludes today's blog.

Ashley Dales' mother Julie Dale listens as a statement is read out on her behalf outside Liverpool Crown Court (PA)

Ashley Dale's mum weeps outside court following the sentencing

Ashley Dale's mum Julie is pictured outside court with other family members as statements were read on relatives' behalf.

In it, she echoed thoughts from the piece read in court, sharing her heartbreak and disbelief.

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The judge had said, in his final remarks after passing the sentences, he was "struck by the dignity" the family had shown throughout the seven-week trial.

Julie Dale listened as a statement was read out on her behalf outside Liverpool Crown Court (PA)

Two of the men convicted of murdering Ashley Dale were potential suspects in Olivia Pratt-Korbel shooting

Two of the men convicted of murdering Ashley Dale were named as potential suspects in the shooting of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, it can now be reported.

Nine-year-old Olivia was shot by Thomas Cashman, 35, as he chased drug dealer Joseph Nee into her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on August 22 last year

The shooting came the day after gunman James Witham, 41, forced his way into Miss Dale’s home in Old Swan, Liverpool, and killed her.

During his trial at Manchester Crown Court in March, lawyers representing Cashman sought to introduce evidence to his trial about other people who had been named as potential suspects in the murder.

Those named during legal argument included Sean Zeisz, 28, and Niall Barry, 26 – who went on to be convicted of Miss Dale’s murder – and Ian Fitzgibbon, 28, who stood trial for her murder and was found not guilty.

In arguments heard in private but summarised in a ruling by judge Mrs Justice Yip, the defence asked for disclosure of information relating to Fitzgibbon, who was extradited from Spain in August to stand trial for Ms Dale’s shooting.

Senior officer's statement

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Cath Cummings said: “We have heard how a long-standing feud was re-ignited by events in Glastonbury in the summer of 2022 which was turbo charged by the death of Rikki Warnick.

“A group came together to seek revenge for longstanding drugs disputes. The prosecution do not have to prove a motive, but in this case the motive was identified and went on to unlock the truth of this case

“As James Witham stormed into Ashley’s home that night, wearing a balaclava, firing from a Scorpion sub-machine gun he took away Ashley, an ambitious, bubbly, charismatic, young woman. The community rocked, her family and friends left devastated

“A meticulous investigation has resulted in securing some answers for the family, but it will never take their pain away, their lives have been shattered beyond belief."

Ashley Dale's mum tells gunman given life she hopes daughter's face 'haunts you'

The gunman who shot Ashley Dale stormed out of the dock as her weeping mother told him "I hope my baby girl's face haunts you every night".

A huge turnout of Ashley's family and friends turned out to watch four men, convicted of her murder, sentenced today. James Witham, 41, Joseph Peers, 29, Niall Barry, 26, and Sean Zeisz, 28, were all jailed for life.

Ashley's mum, Julie, 46, broke down as she told the four they were "monsters" and that she would never ever forgive them. She said: "I will never ever forgive you, for the life sentence you have gave to me and my family."

For the full story, click this link.

Ashley Dale is pictured in a paddling pool holding her dog Darla with the family dog, Cooper beside her (PA)

Killers get 173 years in total for Ashley Dale's murder

Altogether, the four thugs have been sentenced to a total of 173 years minimum in jail.

Justice Goose asks for the defendants to be taken down to the cells.

Mr Greaney rises, and says Ashley’s family has asked him to mention a "small point" publicly.

The lawyer adds: "Under the leadership of Detective Chief Inspector Cath Cummings, the investigation into Ashleys death was one of exceptional quality."

Peers is sentenced to life for Ashley Dale's murder

Joseph Peers is sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 41 years in prison.

He too was asked to stand by the judge at Liverpool Crown Court.

Some of the defendants’ family members begin to file out of court. One woman is heard to say: "Corrupt as f*** in here mate."

Joseph Peers faces sentencing today (PA)

Sean Zeisz gets life with minimum of 42 years

Sean Zeisz has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 42 years in prison.

Addressing the four killers, the judge says: "I must adjust the 30-year starting point to reflect aggravating and mitigating factors.

"I adjust that to take account of the different roles played by you."

Sean Zeisz is being sentenced today at Liverpool Crown Court (PA)

Niall Barry is sentenced

Niall Barry is sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 47 years in prison.

In reference to each defendant, the judge adds: "Had Lee Harrison been home I am sure he would also have been murdered.

"I find no significant mitigating factors."

Niall Barry is sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 47 years (PA)

James Witham sentenced to life in prison for murder of Ashley Dale

James Witham is sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 43 years in prison.

Justice Goose describes Witham and the other defendants as a “dangerous offenders”.

He asked Witham to stand for sentencing.

James Witham shot Ashley Dale dead (PA)

Justice Goose sums up as he prepares to sentence the men

Justice Goose says: "Ashley Dale died shortly after she was shot. Lee Harrison has refused to cooperate in the police operation, so involved with criminal drug dealing gangs is he. This must have been a cruel twist in the tragic loss of their daughter and sister. Harrison has refused to assist the police to bring her killers to justice. Despite this, Ashley’s family have shown remarkable dignity as they listened to the evidence in this trial.

“This court has heard the most moving victim impact statement of Ashley’s mother, father and grandmother. The harm caused to them is profound and will last forever. Ashley Dale was in the prime of her life and was gunned down in her own home, where she should have been safe. This murder was planned by the four of you. The motive concerned a deep seated drugs feud between you and Lee Harrison.

“Barry had access to guns, particularly military grade Skoprion sub machine guns..

“I am sure on the evidence that Barry and Witham played the lead roles in this murder, discussed and carried out from Barrys flat. Barry providing the gun and ammunition.

"They travelled in that car jointly and remained together as they returned to the flat. It was there that Barry and Zeisz waited, anxiously calling them to hear how they were progressing. Barry planned to leave the country but was arrested before he could do so. Witham and Peers stayed in a hotel away from their homes and also in Scotland before they were arrested."

Defence for Witham and Barry

Richard Pratt, KC, representing James Witham, rises next.

RP: “We adopt much the same procedure. We have made four points of legal principle rather than anything advanced by way of mitigation. We are bound to accept the jury’s verdicts. My lord will make judgements as to the extent of the aggravating features."

Katy Appleton, junior counsel for Niall Barry, says a note has been provided to the judge. Mr Justice Goose says he has received "helpful" sentencing notes from all defendants and confirms he has read them.

She says: "I don’t propose to say anything further to the note."

Ashley Dale's father shares his grief

Ashley's father's statement is read on his behalf at Liverpool Crown Court.

It says: “On Saturday 20th August 2022, I went to bed as normal. I didn’t realise that when I woke up, my life would never be the same again. In the early hours of the morning on Sunday 21st August 2022, I was awoken by an officer from Merseyside Police who, on confirming who I was, told me my daughter, Ashley Dale, was dead.

“I can’t even begin to describe how I felt. I’d instantly been confined to a living nightmare. He then proceeded to tell me that Ashley had been shot. I remember shouting ‘no’ for a long time at the top of my voice; I couldn’t believe it - history had repeated itself."

Ashley Dale is pictured with her father Steve Dunne (PA)

James Witham walks out of the dock

Witham has walked out of the dock as Ms Dale continues her statement.

As she looks directly towards the dock at Witham, the mum's voice wavers. She says: "For my Ash, My Baby Girl, Forever 28. I love you. I miss You. Until we meet again, Mum."

Ms Dale steps down from the witness box, and returns to her seat in the public gallery. Mr Greaney, prosecuting, says: "Ashley’s father has drawn it to our attention that Mr Witham has left the dock.”

Justice Goose says: "Yes he has stepped out temporarily. I’m expecting him to come back."

James Witham shot Ashley Dale dead (PA)

Ashley Dale's mother speaks of her 'total shock and disbelief'

Mr Greaney says: “Finally, and very importantly, we will turn to the victim personal statements.

He calls on Julie Dale, Ashley's mother, to enter the witness box. Julie steps into the witness box and begins to read her statement.

Julie Dale: “03:45 on the 21st August 2022. The day I not only lost my daughter, but my best friend. The night we got that dreaded knock that no parent or family should ever have to get.

“Two police officers stood at my door, an image that will haunt me forever. I remember walking down the stairs, saying to Bobby (her partner) “I’m scared”, I know what this means. “Can we come in?”, they said. Never did I think they would say these words. ‘She’s passed away’ they said.

“My life might as well have ended there too. Those three little words had just turned my lights out forever. Time has since stood still.

“The police officers left, leaving carnage behind. Myself and Bobby in total shock and disbelief. Ashley’s two younger sisters were sleeping peacefully in their beds upstairs. Then the reality set in, that I was going to have to tell them, that their big sister they so adored was no longer here.

Julie’s voice, steady and assured so far, begins to crack and there are tears among her family in the public gallery.

Julie Dale: “Those poor innocent girls, exposed to this horrific act. How can I tell them some evil person has done this to their defenceless sister who was home alone in her place of safety. A place where they regularly spent nights staying over , sleeping in the bedroom where five shots had been fired, above the bed where they had slept only one week before. The horrific thought came to my mind, that we could have been here dealing with multiple murders. My whole family could have been killed that night. No thought given to who could have been in the house, one intention only. To kill.”

Ashley was executed in terror, prosecution says

Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, says of the murder of Ashley Dale: "The sentence is of course fixed by law on this count. Imprisonment for life. The prosecution submit that while the case of each defendant calls for a particularly lengthy minimum term, it is not one requiring a whole life order.

"If the position of the Crown is right, the question becomes what is the minimum term each must serve before becoming eligible to apply for parole.

"The prosecution submit that on the facts of count one, the seriousness of the offence is particularly high because the murder involved the use of a firearm. The appropriate starting point in determining the minimum term is, we say, 30 years. We understand each of the defendants agrees with that."

Zeisz and Barry's previous convictions

Zeisz has four convictions for six offences, the court hears. These include assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two offences of common assault, for which he was sentenced to 16 months in jail in 2016.

Barry has three convictions for four offences, the prosecution adds. These convictions all relate to the posession of controlled drugs.

The prosecuting lawyer says: "The conduct of Sean Zeisz and Niall Barry represents serious organised criminality of a significant nature, of a type that would of itself require the imposition of lengthy custodial sentences."

Sean Zeisz is being sentenced today at Liverpool Crown Court (PA)

Witham and Peers' criminal records

Paul Greaney, KC, prosecuting, tells the court James Witham has 28 convictions for 37 offences, 16 of which involve controlled drugs.

In 2003, he was jailed for 15 months for possession of cannabis with intent to supply and false imprisonment.

Joseph Peers has six previous convictions for 11 offences, the court hears. They relate to driving, possession of drugs and public disorder.

Joseph Peers faces sentencing today (PA)

Today's hearing at Liverpool Crown Court begins

Mr Justice Goose is in court and proceedings are ready to resume.

Joseph Peers, Sean Zeisz, Niall Barry, and James Witham are all present in the dock, and are asked to identify themselves.

They'll be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court today.

Lead detective in Ashley Dale case shares reaction

Speaking after guilty verdicts on Monday, Merseyside Police's Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Cath Cummings said: “The actions of James Witham on that day had a devastating and widespread impact.

“Ashley, an innocent women, lost her life in the most brutal way at the hands of Witham. That was compounded by the fact that she was alone in her own home, where she should have felt and been safe, when she was fatally shot.

“Her family have to live with that knowledge every day.

“This has been a complex and challenging investigation and it was only thanks to the painstaking work of the investigation team and the community who rallied round and pointed us in the right direction in the early stages that we were able to bring about this successful prosecution.

“The evidential material we had was significant from cell site analysis to DNA and trawling through hundreds of hours of CCTV.

“We also seized thousands of exhibits, of which over 300 were digital devices. By far the most important was Ashley’s phone and the voice notes she sent to her friends describing what was going on in her life and the lead up to her death.

“The four men who have been found guilty have not shown an ounce of remorse for their actions which led to Ashley’s death and instead pleaded not guilty forcing her family to endure a lengthy trial where they have had to relive Ashley’s last moments over and over again. I am pleased that the jury saw through their blatant lies and how they conspired together.

“I would like to pay tribute to Ashley’s family for the dignity and composure they showed throughout the trial. These four men now face a considerable length of time behind bars and while that will never bring Ashley back I hope that, after over a year of waiting for justice, they can move to the next chapter of their lives and properly grieve their loss.

“I would like to thank the investigation team, the family liaison officers, the officers and staff of Merseyside Police and the Crown Prosecution Service and lead counsel who were all vital to ensuring we got the right result.

“I hope this sends a message that serious and organised crime will not be tolerated on the streets of Merseyside and we will hunt down the people who are responsible and put them behind bars."

Ashley Dale helped solve her own murder from beyond the grave

Ashley Dale’s murderers were brought to justice with the help of hundreds of voice recordings on her phone, the senior investigating officer in the case says.

The 28-year-old’s phone was found an arm’s length away from where police officers discovered her, fatally injured, in the back garden of her home in Old Swan, Liverpool, on August 21 last year after gunman James Witham forced his way in and shot her with a Skorpion machine gun.

For the full story, click this link.

Ashley Dale is pictured with her father Steve Dunne (PA)

Ashley Dale's haunting WhatsApp messages helped police catch her killers

Ashley Dale told of "terrible anxiety over all the madness" in WhatsApp voice notes and messages that helped police track her killers.

The 28-year-old council worker was shot dead in her own home on Leinster Road in Old Swan in the early hours of August 21 last year. James Witham, Joseph Peers, Niall Barry and Sean Zeisz have been on trial at Liverpool Crown Court accused of her murder, and were unanimously convicted by a jury on Monday.

For the full story, visit this link.

Tears shed in public gallery at guilty verdicts this week

When the four defendants were found guilty on Monday, tears were shed in the public gallery.

Judge Goose reminded all those present that each of the verdicts had to be delivered in silence.

Speaking after the verdict, Ms Dale's family said she “fell in love with the wrong boy” as they expressed their anger towards the “despicable” boyfriend her murderers were targeting.

For the full story, use this link.

James Witham shot Ashley Dale dead (PA)

How Glastonbury feud left innocent victim 'looking over her shoulder'

A feud between friends at Glastonbury left Ashley Dale "looking over her shoulder" in the months before her death, the court had heard.

Four of six men on trial have been found guilty of murdering the 28-year-old after she was shot with a Skorpion machine gun in her home in Old Swan, Liverpool, in the early hours of August 21 last year. A feud with the environment health worker's partner Lee Harrison had been reignited at the music festival some weeks before, prosecutors said.

For the full story, click this link.

Ashley, 28, is not believed to have been the intended target of the killing (PA)

Ashley Dale's 'chilling voice notes foretold her own murder'

Ashley Dale was able to convict her killers from beyond the grave thanks to a series of harrowing voice notes she sent to friends predicting her murder.

It was the first case where the innocent victim, shot dead in her home last August, provided testimony through the terrified voice notes. Others were too scared to come forward and provide evidence. Miss Dale, 28, had expressed her fears over a growing feud between her boyfriend Lee Harrison and a gang in Liverpool in a series of recordings sent to friends.

For the full story, click this link.

Tributes were paid to Ashley Dale after she died in August 2022 (PA)

Ashley Dale's death one of three fatal shootings within the space of a week in Liverpool

Ashley Dale's death was one of three fatal shootings within the space of a week in Liverpool in August last year.

Nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel died when Thomas Cashman, 35, chased a convicted drug dealer into her home in Dovecot the day after Ms Dale's murder, and Sam Rimmer, 22, was killed in the Dingle area on August 16.

The latest sentencing is scheduled at Liverpool Crown Court for 11am today.

Olivia Pratt-Korbel was killed in the same city in the same month (PA)

The men being sentenced today

- Sean Zeisz, 28, was found guilty of the murder of Ashley Dale, conspiracy to murder Lee Harrison, conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon with intent to endanger life.

- Niall Barry, 26, was found guilty of the murder of Ashley Dale, conspiracy to murder Lee Harrison, conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon with intent to endanger life.

- Joseph Peers, 29, was found guilty of the murder of Ashley Dale, conspiracy to murder Lee Harrison, conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon with intent to endanger life.

- James Witham, 41, was found guilty of the murder of Ashley Dale, conspiracy to murder Lee Harrison, conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon with intent to endanger life.