Friday 13 Oct 2023 7:31 pm
James Whitham admits manslaughter of Ashley Dale but denies murdering her (Picture: PA)

The gunman who killed council worker Ashley Dale in her home deposited £1,000 cash into his bank account two days later, a court was told.

Ms Dale, a 28-year-old environmental health worker, was shot with a Skorpion machine gun at her home in Old Swan, Liverpool in the early hours of August 21 last year.

The person who pulled the trigger was James Witham, 41. He admits manslaughter but denies her murder.

Four other defendants, Niall Barry, 26, Sean Zeisz, 28, Ian Fitzgibbon, 28, and Joseph Peers, 29 – also deny her murder.

It’s alleged Ms Dale died following a feud with her partner Lee Harrison.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today that Peers booked a two-night stay in a twin room at the Mercure Hotel in St Helens, Merseyside just after 7pm on the day she was killed.

CCTV caught Peers and Witham checking into a hotel at around 8.30pm and paying for the room with cash.

Ms Dale was an environmental health worker (Picture: PA)
Witham after being stopped by police (Picture: PA)

They then checked out around 11am on August 23, jurors were told.

Witham was then spotted on CCTV at Liverpool One shopping centre, where, the court heard, he spent £245 in cash at Footasylum on trainers and socks, and £129 on his card in the Everton store.

At 2.55pm he deposited £1,000 into his bank account.

According to detective sergeant Graeme Sutton, phone evidence showed Witham and Peers travelled to Scotland later that day.

Damage caused to the tyres of Ms Dale’s car, which were allegedly slashed at 11.40pm on August 20 to lure the occupants of her home outside (Picture: PA)
The front door to Ms Dale’s door, which was kicked in before she was shot (Picture: PA)

At 10.22am on August 23, Fitzgibbon flew from Birmingham Airport to Dubai with his sister Claudia, the court was told.

CCTV showed Barry and his girlfriend Lucy Worley arriving at the Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa on August 24.

A later clip showed eight armed officers from Merseyside Police entering the hotel, where they located Barry.

CCTV of Witham buying trainers from Taskers Sports in Aintree on August 20. Police found a footprint at the scene of Ms Dale’s shooting which matched the shoes (Picture: PA)

The court heard Barry had been messaging a man called Gus, who the prosecution describe as ‘a fixer’ who enabled people to flee the country.

Witham, of Huyton; Fitzgibbon, of St Helens; Zeisz of Huyton; Barry, of Tuebrook; and Peers, of Roby – all Merseyside – deny conspiracy to murder Mr Harrison and conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon, a Skorpion sub-machine gun, and ammunition, as well as the murder of Miss Dale.

Kallum Radford, 26, of no fixed address, denies assisting an offender.

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