Ashley Dale: Gunman deposited £1k after killing, court hears

Ashley Dale worked as an environmental health officer for Knowsley Council

A gunman who killed a council worker in her home deposited £1,000 cash into his bank account two days after the shooting, a court has heard.

Ashley Dale, 28, was shot at her home in Old Swan, Liverpool, in the early hours of 21 August last year by gunman James Witham, who admits manslaughter.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Mr Witham deposited the money into his account at 14:55 BST on 23 August.

Five men, including Mr Witham, are on trial accused of Ms Dale's murder.

Mr Witham, 41, along with Niall Barry, 26, Sean Zeisz, 28, Ian Fitzgibbon, 28, and Joseph Peers, 29, deny murder, which is alleged to have happened following a feud with her partner Lee Harrison.

The jury was told, following the shooting, Mr Peers booked a two-night stay in a twin room at the Mercure Hotel in St Helens just after 19:00 BST on 21 August.

He and Mr Witham were seen on CCTV checking into the hotel at about 20:30 and paying for the room with cash.

The pair checked out at about 11:00 on 23 August, the court heard.

CCTV from the Liverpool One shopping centre showed Mr Witham there later that day.

The jury has previously been shown CCTV footage of Joseph Peers (left) and James Witham buying beer the night before the shooting

The court heard he spent £245 in cash at the Footasylum store, buying new trainers and socks, and spent £129 in the Everton store on his card.

At 14:55, he deposited £1,000 of cash into his bank account, the jury was told.

'Travelled to Scotland'

Det Sgt Graeme Sutton said phone evidence showed Mr Witham and Mr Peers travelled to Scotland later that day.

At 10:00 on 23 August, Mr Fitzgibbon flew from Birmingham Airport to Dubai with his sister Claudia, the court was told.

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

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

The court heard Mr Barry had been messaging a man called Gus, who the prosecution describes as "a fixer" who enabled people to flee the country.

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

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

The trial continues.

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