A NEW Channel 4 documentary following Merseyside Police’s investigation into the murders of Ashley Dale and Olivia Pratt-Korbel has been described by Merseyside Police as a “hard emotional watch”.

The four-part series, titled Merseyside Detectives: The Murders of Ashley and Olivia, focuses on the high-profile murders of 28-year-old Ashley Dale and nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, who were both killed in 2022.

The first episode aired on Channel 4 at 9pm last night (Monday, August 19).

The series, which will run over consecutive nights this week, features testimonies from the loved ones of both victims, as well as cameras following the work of Merseyside Police.

Posting on social media last night, Merseyside Police said: “Tonight, the first episode of a new four-part documentary series ‘Merseyside Detectives: The Murders of Ashley and Olivia’ will air on Channel 4.

“The series, by L.A. Productions will give you a behind the scenes look at our work during the devastating murders of 28-year-old Ashley Dale and nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in August 2022.

“Our thoughts continue to be, and will forever remain with, the families of Ashley and Olivia and anyone else affected by the tragedies.

“The series, which features Olivia and Ashley’s families, is a hard, emotional watch, which shows the police response from the first call received to the first responders attending, through to the investigations and subsequent convictions of the offenders.

“If you need any support, please contact Victim Care Merseyside here: https://orlo.uk/B6Mcr

“Merseyside Detectives will air at 9pm every night until Thursday.”

Ashley Dale

Environmental health officer at Knowsley Council Ashley, was killed when gunman James Witham, 41, forced open the door of her home in Old Swan, Liverpool, in the early hours of August 21, firing 10 bullets in her dining room, one hitting Ms Dale in the abdomen as she stood by the back door, and five bullets into the wall of an upstairs bedroom.

Witham admitted her manslaughter but a jury at Liverpool Crown Court also found him guilty of her murder, along with fellow “foot soldier” Joseph Peers, 29, who the prosecution alleged drove a Hyundai to the scene and earlier helped Witham to stab tyres on Ms Dale’s car in an attempt to lure out the occupants of the house.

Niall Barry, 26, and Sean Zeisz, 28, were also convicted of murder after the jury heard they organised and encouraged the killing, which came after a feud between Miss Dale’s boyfriend Lee Harrison and Barry was re-ignited when Zeisz was assaulted at the Glastonbury festival last year.

Olivia Pratt-Korbel

On August 22, Thomas Cashman 34, chased a convicted drug dealer into nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s home in Liverpool.

Cashman admitted being a “high-level” cannabis dealer but denied being the gunman in the incident, which also injured Olivia’s mother Cheryl Korbel, 46, and Joseph Nee, the intended target, in Dovecot.

A jury at Manchester Crown Court found him guilty of the murder of Olivia, the attempted murder of Nee, wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm to Ms Korbel, and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

During the trial, which lasted more than three weeks, the jury heard the schoolgirl ran downstairs after hearing shots outside, saying “I’m scared mummy, I’m scared”.

The bullet which killed Olivia was fired through the front door, hitting Ms Korbel in the hand before striking the schoolgirl in the chest.