Four men sentenced over machine gun murder of Ashley Dale

Environmental health worker Ashley Dale 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.

Witham, who had admitted manslaughter, and co-defendants Joseph Peers, 29, Niall Barry, 26 and Sean Zeisz, 28, were found guilty of murder on Monday after a seven-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

They were also convicted of conspiracy to murder Ms Dale’s partner Lee Harrison and conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon and ammunition.

The trial heard that the shooting came after a feud involving the defendants and Mr Harrison, which the prosecution alleged “reignited” at the Glastonbury festival in June 2022.

The court heard that all the defendants had been together in a flat in Huyton, Merseyside, on the evening of August 20 before “foot soldiers” Witham and Peers left shortly after 10pm to carry out the shooting.

On Monday, following a seven-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court, a jury found James Witham, Sean Zeisz, Niall Barry and Joseph Peers guilty of the murder of 28-year-old Ashley, who was fatally shot in her home in Leinster Road on August 21.

James Witham, 41, of Ashbury Road, in Huyton, had previously admitted being the gunman who fired the fatal shot.

The four men were also found guilty of conspiracy to murder Ashley’s boyfriend Lee Harrison and conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon, namely a Skorpion submachine gun, and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

Sean Zeisz, 28, of Longreach Road in Huyton, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 42 years for the murder of Ashley Dale, conspiracy to murder Lee Harrison, conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon with intent to endanger life

Niall Barry, 26, of Moscow Drive in Tuebrook, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 47 years for the murder of Ashley Dale, conspiracy to murder Lee Harrison, conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon with intent to endanger life

Joseph Peers, 29, of Woodlands Road in Roby, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 41 years for the murder of Ashley Dale, conspiracy to murder Lee Harrison, conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon with intent to endanger life

James Witham, 41, of Ashbury Road, Huyton, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 43 years for the murder of Ashley Dale, conspiracy to murder Lee Harrison, conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon with intent to endanger life.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Cath Cummings said: "Today Joseph Peers, James Witham, Nial Barry and Sean Zeisz have been jailed for life for the brutal and senseless murder of Ashley Dale, in her own home on Sunday 21st August last year.

"That night, Ashley was in the safest place she thought she would be her home.

"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.

"Let today be a clear message that Merseyside Police and communities of Merseyside will not tolerate the actions of those who are intent on destroying lives. Together we will be relentless in identifying those who carry or use firearms ensuring those individuals or groups are removed from our streets.

"I would like to thank the Crown Prosecution Service and in particular Paul Greaney KC, Alex Langhorne and Holly Menary for the successful prosecution of the case.

"I would also like to thank all the officers and staff from across all strands of Merseyside Police who were involved in the case, including the Detectives who supported the Major Crime Unit from across the country.

"But more importantly I would like to thank the family for the immense courage and composure displayed throughout the trial as they have relived the horrific events of 21st August.

"Whilst they will never get over losing their Ashley following today’s result I and the rest of the Team hope they will find some comfort in the knowledge that those responsible will spend the rest of their life behind bars.”

When passing sentencing, Justice Goose said: "I commend the officer for the work that’s been done during this trial and support of the family. I know you have been supported by many other officers.

"I have been struck by the dignity you have shown as a family and the way you expressed yourselves in the Victim Personal Statements was truly remarkable."