GUILTY UK - Ashley Dale, 28 fatally shot at home, Liverpool - 21 Aug 2022

[Legal]

I wonder how big the dock is. There are six of them in there after all!

Would they all be being held in the same prison, or separated does anyone know?

 

[Legally Bland]

15:14JONATHAN HUMPHRIES

'I never thought it would be used in a murder'​

DC Sheedy asks: “£100 exchanges hands. The male in the second vehicle, does he come in the house at all?”
Radford: “They’ve parked on the front.”
JS: “Does Joey come into the house?”
KR: “He came into the garden but he didn’t come into the house.”
JS: “How long is he there at Abbie’s?”
KR: “Three or four minutes. I was talking to him in the garden when I’ve gone in the house that’s when they’ve got off.”
JS: “There’s been a road traffic collision or damage caused to the vehicle. You’re thinking that’s from an accident.”
KR: “I didn’t know what it was, whether it was a feud. I didn’t ask too many questions.”
DC Sheedy asks if he ever had the key to the Hyundai: “He tried to pass it me once but I said I didn’t want it.”
He says he then saw Peers “within two or three weeks” when he “went up to his mum’s”
JS: “You’re speaking to him on the phone on the odd occasions?”
KR: “Yeah yeah yeah.”
JS: “What are those conversations around?”
KR: “I can’t remember.”
He says Peers was telling him “My mate will come round and get the car that night.”
JS: “Were you aware Joey had been arrested at all?”
KR: “No. I wasn’t aware he’d been arrested. I didn’t know what he’d be arrested for. He told me his friend got arrested, whose car it was meant to be?”
JS: “Do you know where Joey was in September?”
KR: “He said to me he was going up to Scotland to see someone, his uncle or someone.”
JS: “Was it a regular trip or wouldn’t you know?”
KR: “I wouldn’t know.”
JS; “He gets arrested in the middle of September. He’s questioned and released on bail. That car is still on Abbie’s path. Has he notified you or asked you to do anything with that vehicle at all?”
KR: “No. He said something, I don’t even know.”
He says Peers asked him to move the vehicle but he couldn’t drive.
JS: “Did he say where to drive it to?”
KR: “No he said you can use that car if you like. I can’t drive.”
He says Peers offered him the key “a few weeks afterwards, about three of four weeks afterwards, just before the car got took”
JS: “At any point, has he asked you to clean that car up?”
KR: “No.”
JS: “Did he send anyone to clean the car.”
KR: “No, unless he’s cleaned it up before.”
Radford is told his and Peers’ DNA are in the car.
JS: “Are they the plates that were on it when it was dropped off?”
KR: “Yeah yeah.”
JS: “Joseph Peers gets out of custody on September 15. Would it be around this time he’s asked you to try and move it?”
KR: “Possibly. He asked me to move it I said.”
JS: “You think there’s something wrong now?”
KR: “I started to think it was robbed. That car was defo robbed. That’s what I’ve started thinking. Something isn’t right. Why isn’t he coming and getting the car. I would never have thought it would be used in a murder. That would be the last thing I ever thought.”
JS: “The police found the car at Abbie’s. You’re arrested. You speak to us in here. You’re released on bail. You’ve stuck to your bail conditions. Has Peers been in touch with you?”
KR: “No. I won’t speak to him ever again.”

Ashley Dale murder trial as it happens

The 28-year-old was shot dead at her home on Leinster Road in Old Swan

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[bobbymkii]

Would they all be being held in the same prison, or separated does anyone know?

I would have thought seperate, where possible. They should have enough men's prisons in the North West to keep them seperate.

I'm not even sure if Kallum Radford is on remand as he's only charged with assisting he might be allowed bail?

 

[HongKongPhooey]

I wonder how big the dock is. There are six of them in there after all!

I’m imagining much shuffling of feet!

 

[chimpface]

I think there is a huge amount that is not being shared with the jury, hence all the legal discussion. I wonder if some of the key players have been charged with something and are currently incarcerated (remember in the Thomas Cashman trial how we found out after the event that the other bloke had confessed). I want to be careful what I post in the interests of a fair trial but it crossed my mind that only 1 message from Lee to Ashley had been shared (are you dead?). I think it's possible there was a lot more incriminating information in Ashley's phone and it will be interesting to see what comes out after the verdict has been given.

Not sure who the witness is who is coming from abroad?

I think Sean Zeisz probably is, he has another case going on as per the link below.

Sean Zeisz denies alleged firearms and serious assault plots

The 27-year-old pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm to Jamie Nee

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Legally Bland]

15:36JONATHAN HUMPHRIES

Court adjourns​

Mr Greaney says that is all the evidence the jury can hear today.
They are asked to return tomorrow morning. Thanks for following our live updates. We will reutrn with further coverage tomorrow morning.

Ashley Dale murder trial as it happens

The 28-year-old was shot dead at her home on Leinster Road in Old Swan

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Legally Bland]

11:41JONATHAN HUMPHRIES

Case resumes​

The jury are brought back in. Paul Greaney, KC, prosecuting, rises and asks them to turn to a transcript of the third interview with Kallum Radford.
He says there are some corrections that need to be made.
He asks them to refer to a section in which a detective asks Radford: “And then you mentioned earlier on that you would sometimes speak to [Joseph Peers] on his mum’s phone as well?”
Mr Greaney says the question was “posed on the basis of attribution work that had been done at that stage”.
PG: “The police’s understanding has developed since then. It’s now clear it was not his mum’s phone, it was his [Joseph Peers’s] phone.”
He says the same of two other questions on this topic.

Ashley Dale murder trial as it happens

The 28-year-old was shot dead at her home on Leinster Road in Old Swan

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Legally Bland]

11:49JONATHAN HUMPHRIES

Ashley Dale, Lee Harrison and Ian Fitzgibbon 'socialised together' at Glastonbury​

Junior counsel for the prosecution, Alex Langhorn, will now read a series of agreed facts to the jury.
He says these are related to messages recovered from Ashley Dale’s iPhone concerning Glastonbury festival in June 2022.
On June 23, messages between Olivia ‘Liv’ McDowell, and Ashley.
At 4.13pm, Ashley messages Olivia: “Are you coming xxxx Can’t wait. First time i proper met you was in Glasto five years ago.”
OM: “I know, me and Sean coming…. Ian is coming”
AD: “Yay fab”
There are further messages from Ian Fitzgibbon’s sister, Claudia Fitzgibbon, to Ashley Dale’s Instagram on June 5.
CF: “Hey Ash have you got Lee’s number for Ian?”
AD: “Hey Claud, he hasn’t got a phone but this is mine (give’s number) Tell him to ring that”
CF: “Thank you Ash "
There is then a voice call from Ian Fitzgibbon’s number to Ashley Dale’s number for 34 seconds
There is then a voice call from Ian Fitzgibbon to Ashley Dale’snumber, lasting 28 seconds.
WhatsApp messages are exchanged between the two numbers.
IF: “Where are yous?"
AD: “We’re by the pyramid stage, where are yous?"
IF: “Were in Stonebridge.”
AD: “Are you staying there?”
IF: “Just above Rabbit Hole. Stonebridge.”
IF: “Yo”
A: “We’re at the pyramid, Noel Gallagher is on then we’ll walk up to yous.”
On the morning of June 26:
IF: “Where yous?”
AD: “Arcadia.”
IF: “Yo…Yo where’s yous gone?”
That evening:
IF: “Where are you?”
AD: “Stage DJ.”
Mr Langhorn tells the jury: “It is possible it was Lee Harrison using Ashley Dale’s phone to speak to Ian Fitzgibbon at Glastonbury.”
He says there are also pictures of Ashley Dale, Lee Harrison and Ian Fitzgibbon “socialising” together.

11:59JONATHAN HUMPHRIES

Multiple Hyundai cars ruled out of investigation​

Mr Greaney rises and reads further agreed facts to the jury.
PG: “There is an issue about whether the grey Hyundai i30N Performance shown at 22.20 is the vehicle WL68KKT the defendants had acquired or if it is a different vehicle of the same type.”
An image is shown of the car travelling along Broad Green Road in the direction of Oakhill Road at this time, alongside a red Volkswagen.
At 23.07 in Roby, the KKT Hyundai was recorded by an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera.
PG: “No other Hyundai i30N Performance activated an ANPR camera in the Huyton or Old Swan areas during this four hour period in Liverpool. It does not provide blanket coverage, including in the Huyton and Old Swan areas.”
He says police then looked at a 48 hour period on August 20 and 21.
PG: “The work identified a Hyundai, registration GU70CEN, registered to a man in Runcorn.”
The man told police he visited the Baltic Triangle to match an MMA fight before travelling to pub on Smithdown Lane to watch the Anthony Joshua fight, then went to Speke area (on August 20)
Mr Greaney says the man told police he “never travelled to the Huyton or Old Swan areas” on this evening, and that is consistent with ANPR data.
The ANPR system was also interrogated between August 1 to September 10.
A Hyundair with the registration BO55MBD “in a darker grey then the suspect vehicle” was discovered, registered to a man in Bolton.
That man entered Merseyside during the period, but not on August 20 or 21 and not in the Huyton or Old Swan areas.
Mr Greaney says the owner gave a “consistent account”.
Another Hyundai, registration SM69RZY, was registered to man in Manchester
That vehicle entered Merseyside on August 30 “on the way to Chester”, where its owner was attending a course.
That car did not activate ANPR cameras on Aug 20 or 21.
Mr Greaney says another Hyundai, registration BV02TKT, was discovered registered to man from Tamworth.
He says that vehicle “has an altogether different body shape” to the suspect vehicle.
It entered the Merseyside area on August 18 before travelling on to Wigan.
It did not activate ANPR cameras on August 20 or 21.
The next Hyundai, registration, DG20WPT was uncovered which was “in a darker grey than suspect vehicle”
It was registered to an owner in the Guildon Sutton area of Cheshire.
It did enter Merseyside in that period but not on August 20 or 21, and not in Huyton or Old Swan.
The next Hyundai vehicle which activated ANPR cameras in Merseyside was registered to an owner in Shipley, West Yorkshire.
It entered Merseyside on two occasions in the period but, not on August 20 or 21 and not in Huyton or Old Swan.

12:04JONATHAN HUMPHRIES

Hyundai cars registered in Merseyside or nearby​

Mr Greaney says police also looked at vehicles of the same time shown to be registered in the Merseyside area or adjacent areas.
The fist, MC19YMA, was registered to man in Bootle.
He says the vehicle “remained parked on driveway of his home” on the night of August 20 to 21.
The second, reg MB03HDB, was registered Toxteth.
That also “remained parked on rhe driveway” of the owner’s home on the night.
The third, reg LX70XZO, was registered in Lancashire.
Its owner stated she “remained parked in Formby” on the night of the shooting.
The fourth, registration NP19KYX, was registered to a man in Allerton.
Mr Greaney said that car also “remained parked on driveway at his home” on the night of the shooting.
He also had CCTV at his home shown car at address.
The fifth, reg YF69TYC and registered Lancashire, had a different specification to the suspect vehicle.
The owner travelled to Liverpool on August 20 but did so by train, with the vehicle remaining in Lancashire.
The last, reg, YX19TJY, “had an altogether different body shape” and “was a darker grey in colour”.

Ashley Dale murder trial as it happens

The 28-year-old was shot dead at her home on Leinster Road in Old Swan

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Legally Bland]

12:08JONATHAN HUMPHRIES

Intelligence on Hyundai cars​

Mr Greaney says police also received intelligence about Hyundai vehicles.
He says on October 2, police received anonymous information that a Hyundai with the reg HF69BAO was a suspect vehicle.
He says investigations revealed it did relate to a grey Hyundai.
The owner was spoken to and said he purchased the car on March 23 and stated the vehicle had been “left parked and secure” at business premises Hawthorne Road, Bootle, until September 16 when he loaned the vehicle to another man.
That car activated an ANPR camera in Hawthorne Road on May 17, 2022.
Mr Greaney says it “Didn’t activate any ANPR camera in the UK between May 17 and August 30”.
On August 30, it activated two cameras in Bootle.
On September 1, it activated ANPR cameras in Bootle and Kirkby
It didn’t activate any ANPR between September 1 and 15.
On September 15, it activated ANPR cameras in Walton
Mr Greaney says on October 28, “following a press release containing CCTV of the Hyundai”, Merseyside Police “received intelligence” concerning a vehicle with the registration BF19NDB. However he says that vehicle “had an altogether different body shape and was a darker grey in colour” than the suspect car.

12:15JONATHAN HUMPHRIES

Ashley Dale was "unable to speak" in voicemail to boyfriend after she was shot​

Mr Langhorn now reads further agreed facts relating to Ashley Dale’s phone and data concerning the distance it travelled just prior to her death.
He says the “distance travelled” by the phone is “approximate only”.
Mr Langhorn tells the jury there are “margins of error” of around 20 per cent on the Health app, which is where the data was obtained from.
Police were also able to recover a voicemail Ashley left to Lee Harrison after she was shot.
AL: “Although the call connected, Ashley Dale was not able to speak and did not leave any discernible message”.
Mr Langhorn moves on and says on August 20, a boxing match took place between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia. The undercard began 15.00, and the ringwalks for the main event at 23.00.
The first round was approximately 23.15 and it concluded approximately 00.02, with the result announced approximately 00.09.
On August 21 an MMA fight took place between Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The undercard began at 23.00 August 20, with the main event scheduled for 3:00 UK time.

12:21JONATHAN HUMPHRIES

Witham's bank deposits​

Mr Langhorn moves on to James Witham’s bank accounts.
Police found there had only been seven deposits of cash in 2022. Four were for £100 or less, with one on February 24 for £300. On Augusty 9, there was a deposit of £400, and then £1,000 on August 23.
Mr Langhorn refers to events at the Formby Hall Hotel.
He says Georgia Whelan, an employee, checked records and provided Merseyside Police with documents on bookings made by Lucy Worley on September 23, 2021, and August 6, 22, 23 and 24 in 2022.
He says an iPhone was seized at Formby Hall. Police recovered an internet search history. Between August 18 and 19, 2022, Niall Barry viewed the Autotrader website.
There was also a Nokia phone seized from Formby Hall. They recovered a draft message which gave a phone number and three registration plate numbers.
Mr Langhorn refers to Abbie Jevins. He says she travelled from Manchester to Tenerife on August 29 and returned September 2.
In relation to items recovered from the search of Pilch Lane, he says a box of Bold washing tablets and Comfort fabric softener were recovered from a shelf in a utility room.
A forensic scientist examined those items, and found Witham’s thumb and finger prints on both items.
Police purchased a pair of size 7.5, 8.5 and 9.5 On Cloudflyer trainers from Tasker trainers, which were given to scientist Mark Kearsley for examination
Police took DNA reference samples from Ashley Dale. Samples were also taken from Witham, Peers, Radford, Zeisz and Barry.

Ashley Dale murder trial as it happens

The 28-year-old was shot dead at her home on Leinster Road in Old Swan

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Legally Bland]

12:25JONATHAN HUMPHRIES

Witham gave false name​

Mr Langhorn continues reading agreed facts. He says on September 13, James Witham and Josep Peers were arrested at 16.41 by an unmarked armed response vehicle.
The police had asked to stop a vehicle travelling south near Penrith, seen going past Tebay Services.
It was pulled over at Junction 38.
Peers was arrested and replied: “Suspicion of murder? Suspicion of murder?”
Mr Langhorn says £500 was found in his trouser pocket.
He says Witham gave the name “Francis Kelly” with a dato of birth of 14 December 81.
His details were checked, and the officer suggested he was in fact James Witham.
Witham then confirmed his real identity.
A mobile phone battery was found in his left side jacket pocket, with a quantity of cash in his jeans of around £800.
Witham said he was “on his way home to hand himself in”. He said he thought he would be wanted “in relation to his tag” which he received following events at Glastonbury
Both were then taken into custody.

Ashley Dale murder trial as it happens

The 28-year-old was shot dead at her home on Leinster Road in Old Swan

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Legally Bland]

12:28JONATHAN HUMPHRIES

Kallum Radford found dad's body in "decomposed state"​

Mr Langhorn continues. He says Waring Avenue is on a local bus route between Parr and St Helens. On October 6, Kallum Radford’s dad was found dead in decomposed state at his address.
Kallum Radford had found the body and was described as being in a “distressed state”.
Mr Langford says the Hyundai was examined after being found by police. The bodywork was “reasonably clean” and the tyres had mud on them. There were “oily marks” on the front bonnet, with some damage to bodywork in the area of the boot.
He says the number plates “appeared to have been tampered with”, with tape placed over number eight on both front and back.
Only one fingerprint was recovered from the vehicle.
He says the number plates were “in poor condition”, and had been broken and taped back together.
Door handle swabs contained Kallum Radford’s DNA.
On Tuesday, October 11, Kallum Radford was arrested after attending Copy Lane Police Station. He had arranged through his solicitor to hand himself in
AL: “Mr Radford did not respond to his caution”.

12:33JONATHAN HUMPHRIES

Documentary crew at Copy Lane during arrest of Kallum Radford​

Mr Langhorn moves on to Ian Fitzgibbon’s extradition.
He says on August 9, 2023, Ian Fitzgibbon was arrested in Malaga by Spanish police.
On August 24, police officers travelled to Spain and attended Malaga Airport.
He was then released into their custody. Spanish police handed Fitzgibbon’s personal possessions to the officers These included an iPhone, a UK driving licence, a bracelet and 93 Euros in cash.
He was put on a flight to Heathrow Airport, which “passed without incident”. He was arrested on suspicion of murder and conspiracy to murder after landing in the UK.
He was then “escorted back to Liverpool”.
He was taken to Wirral Custody Suite in a marked transporter van.
Mr Langhorn refers to Joseph Peers. Peers was interviewed under caution on the afternoon of September 14 at St Anne Street while represented by a solicitor.
AL: “Mr Peers exercised his right to silence throughout the course of both interviews.”
On the Morning of September 15, 2022, Peers was interviewed at St Anne Street with his solicitor under caution
He confirmed he wore a size 7 shoe but otherwise gave no comment.
On January 2023, he was interviewed again under caution, again represented by a solicitor, and again “exercised his right to silence”.
Referring to Kallum Radford, Mr Langhorn says on October 11, Radford was seen by a healthcare professional and examined.
He “mentioned he had issues in relation to learning difficulties”, although they had not been formally diagnosed.
He said he was suffering from depression following the death of his father.
Mr Langhorn says “A television film crew were present” at Copy Lane Police Station at the time Radford was arrested, but not in the interview room.

12:39JONATHAN HUMPHRIES

Zeisz 'disgusted by what happened'​

Mr Langhorn moves onto Sean Zeisz, who was interviewed on August 30, 2022, at St Anne Police Station.
He had a legal representative and was cautioned.
His solicitor then provided a prepared statement.
It read: “I was not present at Leinster Road at any time on August 20 or 21.
“I am not involved in this matter”.
He “thereafter exercised his right to silence”
On August 31, Sean Zeisz was interviewed again under caution. Again he remained silent.
On February 13, 2023, he was interviewed again supported by an appropriate adult, and cautioned. His solicitor gave a further prepared statement: “I previously confirmed I have nothing to do with this offence and vehemently deny any involvement.
“I wish to make it clear I’m disgusted by what happened.”
The statement said he had been to Chan’s Chip shop on the night of August 20 and was invited to watch the boxing at the flat on Pilch Lane by Joseph Peers.
There were several others present at 10pm.
The statement said: “One of the others who was at the flat owed me money which I had been chasing for over two weeks. He told me that there was some cannabis at the flat he intended to sell the following morning and told me he would give me the money from this. I therefore agreed to stay over and go with him to sell the same the next day. I had a couple of cannabis joints, watched the boxing and started to fall asleep. Two of the others at the flat had been drinking and Witham became rowdy and was asked to leave by Niall. When Witham left Joe also left and said he was going home. As soon as Joe left, I called him to ask him to get us some cigarettes. Called him around 2 or 3 times but he didn’t answer. I then tried to call a number of friends locally to see if they would get some cigarettes. I did not want to drive to the garage myself as I had no licence and I had smoked pot. I called around 3 or 4 others, but had no luck. I also recall texting people too. I eventually got Joe and asked him for cigarettes. He told me he would call me back. He called me back and said he would come and drop some off. I did not know he was still with James Witham until he came back to the flat with him. I had another cannabis joint, and Niall told me I could sleep in the bed. I then went into the bedroom and went to sleep.”
“I was woken by a door slamming around 4 or 5am. I went back to sleep before waking again at 11am.”
“I’ve known Joe as a friend for a number of years. I know Niall from living in the area. Once again, I vehemently deny any involvement in the offence.”
Thereafter he remained silent but “sniggered when it was suggested he’d let his ex partner’s tyres down”.
His legal representative then said he “was not in the country at the time”.

Ashley Dale murder trial as it happens

The 28-year-old was shot dead at her home on Leinster Road in Old Swan

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Legally Bland]

12:44JONATHAN HUMPHRIES

Niall Barry said he was 'watching the boxing and everything was good'​

Mr Langhorn says Niall Barry was interviewed at St Ann Street under caution on August 25, represented by a solicitor.
An unsolicited comment was noted by an arrested officer, which recorded Barry as saying: “It’s nothing to do with her, she didn’t hurt no one.”
Barry said he had not said that but in fact said the “officers should not point their guns at his girlfriend” and the “she was a good girl”.
He “denied any involvement in the murder of Ashley Dale.”
His solicitor provided a prepared statement.
NB: “I did not kill Ashley Dale. At the time I was at a flat at Pilch Lane with three friends, Sean, Michael and Ian. I was at the flat from August 19 to 21. I stayed at the address all weekend and didn’t leave until Sunday.”
The statement says his iPhone would confirm his whereabouts, and he gave his pin number,
Saying he had had the phone “for about one week”.
He “thereafter exercised his right to silence” other than confirming a white iPhone seized was his. He also said the Pilch Lane flat was “a friend’s flat” but would not say which friend.
Barry’s statement said he had been trying to watch boxing on an Amazon Fire Stick and then watched a UFC fight between Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman on his phone.
He said he was “one million and 10 per cent” sure he had been at the Pilch Lane address.
He said he was “sofa surfing at the time” and “staying from place to place”.
On August 26, he was interviewed again. He generally gave no comment.
He did say: “We were watching the fight together. Everything was good.”
He confirmed he was 6ft7 tall and 18st in weight, and confirmed his shoe size.
On February 13, he was interviewed again. He was cautioned but “thereafter exercised his right to silence”.

12:48JONATHAN HUMPHRIES

Witham said Hyundai car was 'David McCaig's' and claimed he was being 'set up'​

Mr Langhorn moves onto Ian Fitzgibbon, He says: “As Ian Fitzgibbon was arrested and extradited, the police have no power to interview him, and he had not been interviewed about the murder of Ashley Dale.”
James Witham was interviewed following arrest and “exercised his right to silence”.
He did make comments in his second interview at St Anne Street on September 14.
He said he “had nothing to do with it mate, not a clue”.
On September 15, he was interviewed under caution and “thereafter exercised right to silence” although he said he wore a size 7 shoe.
As he was being taken back to cell, said he was “being set up” and the car was “Davo’s”
Later said he was “being stitched up, it’s not right”.
He asked to speak to his solicitor, and said he “did not want to come across as a grass”.
He said: “It was not my car, it was David McCaig’s. He crashed the car the day before. You need to do more enquiries on this car.”
He then arranged to speak to his solicitor, who later informed police “he no longer wanted to speak to the police any further”.
On January 13, 2023,he was interviewed again under caution with a legal representative.
He again “exercised his right to silence”.
The trainers he was wearing were seized, an 8.5 pair of black On Cloud trainers.

12:50JONATHAN HUMPHRIES

Anonymous tip about different car​

Mr Greaney rises and addresses another matter.
He says on October 2, 2022, police received anonymous information about the registration number of a car the informant said was involved.
PG: “As a result of the intelligence received, enquiries were conducted into this vehicle. It was confirmed this vehicle was a grey Hyundai Performance hatchback and was registered to a man in Liverpool. There is a link between that vehicle and Huyton. Research was conducted about the registered keeper, Mr Coogan, and the insured party. A man called Ventre had been insured as of September 21. In due course, it was stopped and was being driven by Mr Ventre. Enquiries were made with Mr Parker, who confirmed he owns the vehicle. Mr Parker stated he purchased this vehicle on March 23, 2022 and he was able to provide documentation to prove this transaction. It was still registered to Mr Coogan.”
Mr Parker said vehicle was parked at his business premises and “did not leave his yard” until Mr Ventre began using it in September 2022.

Ashley Dale murder trial as it happens

The 28-year-old was shot dead at her home on Leinster Road in Old Swan

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Legally Bland]

13:06JONATHAN HUMPHRIES

Niall Barry 'searched for Liverpool Echo crime stories'​

Mr Langhorn rises and now recalls Detective Sergeant Graeme Sutton to the witness box.
He is shown the bag seized from Witham upon his arrest.
GS: “It’s a rucksack. A black rucksack with red ties around the zips and drawstrings at the bottom.”
He confirms it was the same bag captured on body-camera footage during the stop check in Somerset, when Witham and Barry were in a taxi. However it was not seized at that time.
Mr Langhorn says there were two bags within that taxi.
Neither was seized from either man at that time.
DS Sutton is now shown Niall Barry’s bag, seized during his arrest at the Formby Hall Hotel.
He holds the bag, a black holdall with lettering saying “Las Vegas” on the side, up to the jury.
Mr Langhorn now asks DS Sutton about the search history on Niall Barry’s iPhone.
He visits the Google homepage at 12am.
He searches for the Liverpool ECHO at 12am.
At 12.01, he accessed an article about “a heroin importer who named himself after an England striker he thought he looked like”. He then accessed another about two teenagers injured in an incident.
He then looked at an article about another shooting in Liverpool at the time.
The records showed he visited the crime page of the Echo at 12.10.
At 22.15 there was another search for the Liverpool Echo. Barry accessed the crime page at 22.52.
There were then searches for Autotrader 22.54. There were further searches for Autotrader and a make of Range Rover. DS Sutton confirms there were searches for “new and used cars”. Barry was looking at a black Range Rover Sport and black Mercedes Benz at 11.03 on August 20.
There are more searches for a silver Mercedes Benz, and then further searches on Autotrader, including for a blue Mercedes Benz.
At 23.35, DS Sutton confirms there are Google searches for “live boxing”, and a search for a stream for the Joshua vs Usyk fight.
DS Sutton agrees that this is “about 20 minutes into the fight”.
There is then a search of the Liverpool Echo. Barry then returns to Google to search for live boxing streamsAt 00.49 on August 21, there is a Google search for the Liverpool ECHO at “about the time police attended at 40 Leinster Road”.
He accessed an article about a “Spa like home with pool” and then an article about Concert Square “and an incident there”.
Barry then accessed an article headlined “Live Updates as Cordon in Place After Drive-by Shooting”.
AL: “Did that relate to the shooting on Leinster Road?”
GS: “I don’t know. Thereafter there are further searches on the Liverpool ECHO.”
There are further Google searches.
Then, at 1.01am, there is a “Liverpool Echo Google search”.
The phone is looking at “crime news for the Merseyside area”.
DS Sutton confirms there are several further searches for the Liverpool Echo.
GS: “In relation to the driveby shooting, I don’t believe it’s to do with this investigation.”
AL: “It’s an unrelated matter.”
There are further searches for the Liverpool Eecho at 1.38, 2.23 and 2.50 on August 21., followed by a search for Autotrader at 03.04.
There are more searches for the Echo, and Barry is also recorded viewing the crime page.
The last search for the Echo is recorded at 9.56.
AL: “When was the press release about the shooting (issued)?”
GS: “The press release was at 09:26 on August 21.”
AL: “About 30 minutes before the search we’ve seen?”
GS: “Yes.”
AL: “Was anyone named prior to being charged?”
GS: “No.”
AL: “Did police circulate anything in the press about the Hyundai?”
GS: “I believe there was a short video clip around Leinster Road circulated.”
Mr Langhorn said this was on August 23
GS: “It went to all press agencies. It was in the Liverpool Echo, I believe it was in the BBC News.”
AL: “Was it picked up by the national news?”
GS: “It was yes.”
AL: “Was it shown widely?”
GS: “Yes.”
AL; “And picked up internationally as well?”
GS: “Yes.”
The officer says a further clip of the Hyundai at Adisco was released on August 30.
The court will now break for lunch, resuming at 2.10pm.

Ashley Dale murder trial as it happens

The 28-year-old was shot dead at her home on Leinster Road in Old Swan

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Legally Bland]

14:42JONATHAN HUMPHRIES

'Is car recorded at 10.20pm the same as killer's car?'​

Justice Goose calls for the jury.
Detective Sergeant Graeme Sutton will now be cross-examined by Peter Wright, KC, on behalf of Joseph Peers.
He says he wants to “clear up one or two matters”.
PW: “We’re dealing with events on the evening of the 20th. In respect of the purported sightings of a grey Hyundai i30N Performance in company with a red Volkswagen. The jury heard evidence this morning about the efforts of police to seek to narrow down the possible identity of this particular vehicle, as to whether from the available material, this grey Hyundai vehicle is the self same grey Hyundai vehicle used in the shooting and indeed later and is connected to various defendants in this case or whether there is insufficient evidence to confirm that.”
He says cell siting data from Witham’s phone is “inconsistent with that phone being in this Hyundai” at the time of the journey referred to. DS Sutton agrees.
Mr Wright says Peers and Witham “were captured leaving that address at 22.10”.
The Hyundai was then seen on CCTV on Broad Green Road at 22.20.
Mr Wright refers to an associate of the defendants in the case, David McCaig.
A map is displayed to the jury showing the distance between Leinster Road and Pilch Lane.
PW: “You were able to identify the general area where he lived at that time. If we use 40 Leinster Road as our point of reference and go from 40 Leinster Road, along towards the junction with Oak Hill Road and then to Broad Green Road, we can see there is an area which is referred to a little further to the south east as Cunningham Road. Using that as our point of reference, is there beneath Cunningham Road an area of residential properties in a loop.
“It’s within that loop. It’s near to the narrowest part of that loop, near to A-road. That part is West Oak Hill Park.”
Mr Wright corrects himself and says he meant south west rather than south east.
The jury are shown this area on a map.
He then asks about a man named Barry Westall who “features in some of the telephone traffic in this case”.
PW: “If one goes to the north east corner of this map, we can see where there is a plus and a minus in the top right corner. The road there is Dinas Lane. Mr Westall’s address is of the map but in that area.”
GS: “It’s just off the map to the right hand side.”
PW: “We see that the two vehicles appear to travel along Broad Green Road in the direction of Oak Hill Road.”
He says the vehicles are seen on this camera at 22.20 and again at 22.22.
“The vehicles would appear to be out of vision of this camera for a total of two minutes and 26 seconds.”
DS Sutton agrees.
PW: “When they come out, they appear to turn left along Broad Green Road towards the junction, the main A-road, and in the direction also of the Rocket and the motorway.”
GS: “Yes.”
PW: “We will see that the two vehicles must have turned off Broad Green Road and into Glen Road, which is a no go through road. But if one was to drive towards Leinster Road in a vehicle that is on Glen Road, then you could not get through from Glen Road. You’d need to turn onto Monterrey Road. There’s no other way?”
GS: “No.”
PW: “And go along Monterrey Road towards Oak Hill Road and into Leinster Road?”
GS: “Yes.”
PW: “If at this earlier time, one was doing a drive by or performing some form of recce of the premises, that’s the route that one would take?”
GS: “From Glen Road yes.”
PW: “You could hardly do a recce without getting closer than Glen Road?”
GS: “Yes.”
PW: “If you don’t drive by, at least you might set out on foot to undertake that particular exercise?”
GS: “Yes.”
PW: “The grey Hyundai captured in the earlier image and the red Volkswagen turn right onto Glen Road. Then, in Glen Road, there are captured images of again two such vehicles travelling very close, one to the other, along Glen Road in the direction of Monterrey Road and then approximately one minute later now coming back in the opposite direction along Glen Road towards Broad Green Road.”
GS: “Yes.”
PW: “Emerging, turning left onto Broad Green Road before being captured emerging again in the total of what has been two minutes and 26 seconds.”
GS: “Yes.”

Ashley Dale murder trial as it happens

The 28-year-old was shot dead at her home on Leinster Road in Old Swan

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Legally Bland]

14:51JONATHAN HUMPHRIES

"There is no capture of either vehicle travelling in the direction of Leinster Road is there?”​

Mr Wright continues: “There was a trawl of CCTV from Monterrey Road and the surrounding area?”
DS Sutton replies: “There was yes.”
PW: “That material has been viewed many times?”
GS: “It has yes.”
PW: “And the significance of this material is plainly central to the investigation you were undertaking?”
GS: “Yes.”
PW: “It’s in the hours leading up to the shooting from that exhaustive examination of available CCTV on those roads, there is no capture of either vehicle travelling in the direction of Leinster Road is there?”
GS: “Yes. I think the main camera we have there is Oak Hill and Leinster and there is no trace of either vehicle in that area.”
PW: “Neither vehicle was captured travelling down Monterrey Road, nor indeed were there any individuals identified even as figures moving on foot along Monterray Road during this period of time. There was nothing to support any proposition that whoever was in this Hyundai or Golf vehicle, that they had got any closer to Leinster Road than Glen Road?”
GS: “Yes that’s correct.”
PW: “Which they turned out and away within a minute?”
GS: “Yes.”
PW: “We of course have already seen images captured on CCTV from Oak Hill Road, pointing towards Leinster Road. In Leinster Road, similarly, no sighting, no capture of either of these vehicles at that time, or of anyone on foot?”
GS: “No.”

Ashley Dale murder trial as it happens

The 28-year-old was shot dead at her home on Leinster Road in Old Swan

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

14:58Jonathan Humphries

Sean Zeisz phone billing​

Tim Forte will now cross-examine the witness on behalf of Sean Zeisz..

A still from an ANPR camera of Zeisz’s silver Mercedes, captured travelling in the Roby area northbound towards the M62 at 14.54 on August 21, is shown to the jury.
TF: “We have the Hyundai in Stockbridge Village earlier in the day. At 15.01 it’s on the A58 in the Eccleston Park area.”
The jury are shown a map plotting ANPR hits of the Hyundai around this time.
Mr Forte says it is “on the way into St Helens”.
TF: “The Hyundai goes on to enter St Helens.”
GS: “It does.”
Mr Forte now asks about phone billing obtained from service providers.
TF: “You have to keep it as tight as possible.”
GS: “We do.”
TF: “The billing for Mr Zeisz’s phone, the end of July to the end of August.”
GS: “I believe that’s correct.”

There are no further questions for the witness, and he is released.

Ashley Dale murder trial as it happens

The 28-year-old was shot dead at her home on Leinster Road in Old Swan

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

15:09KEY EVENT

Lee Harrison 'at nightclub with Jordan Thompson' on night of Ashley's killing​

Mr Greaney rises and calls police staff investigator (PSI) Dave Rawsthorn to give evidence. He says he is currently posted to the Major Crimes Unit at Merseyside Police, following a lengthy career as a serving officer.
He says he was involved in the investigation “from the start”.

PG: “Have you personally had a number of meetings with Lee Harrison?”
He says he has, and has also been made aware of conversations Harrison had with Detective Constable Joanne Sheedy.

DR: “He just doesn’t want to engage with the police. He doesn’t want to help the police. He said he had ‘no beef with these people’ and then ‘he can’t believe it’s about an argument from years ago’.”

PG: “Do you yourself speak to Lee Harrison on August 21?”
DR: “I did yeah, at his home address.”
PG: “Do you mean at 40 Leinster Road or his parents'?”
DR: “His parents’ home address.”
PG: “Did he say he had been in a relationship with Ashley for five years?”
DR: “Yes he did.”
PG: “On the Saturday, they had chilled together before he left the house at 4.30pm?”
DR: “Yes that’s correct.”
PG: “Did he explain he’d gone out for the night, first to the bookies?”
DR: “He went to Ladbrokes yes.”
PG: “He had intended to watch the Anthony Joshua fight but that had not worked out. Instead they went into town?”
DR: “Yes, they went into town.”
PG: “Did Lee Harrison say he received a call [from Ashley] saying there were rats in the yard and he had not spoken to her after that?”
DR: “Yes, that was possibly around 11 o'clock in the evening.”
PG: “He had had alcohol and taken drugs including cocaine that night?”
DR: “Yes that’s correct.”
PG: “Did Lee Harrison tell you on that same day as Ashley had been killed he’d been to a nightclub then taken a taxi to Longview Heights?”
DR: “He did tell me that yes.”
PG: “Did he say he’d been past the crime scene and seen the road taped off?”
He agrees
PG: “He’d nonetheless travelled onto Longview Heights with his friends?”
DR: “Yes that’s correct/”
PG: “Did he appear to be reluctant to name who he’d been with?”
DR: “Yes he did, he didn’t want to tell us at first.”
PG: “Did he eventually say a man called Shaun Slattery got a taxi with him?”
He agrees
PG“A person called Jordan Curtis was at the flat?”
DR: “Originally he said Jordan Curtis yes.”
PG: “I think he added a man called Steven Wheeler had travelled in a second taxi from the nightclub.”
DR: “Yes.”

Mr Greaney asked whether Harrison was asked why aAshley might have been shot.
Mr Rawthorn says: “Several times.”
PG: : “Did he tell you he had no idea why Ashley or himself would be targeted?
DR: “That’s exactly what he said yes.”
PG: “Did he deny he was under threat from anyone?”
DR: He agreed.”
PG: “Did he say he could offer no reason why Ashley would be shot dead?”
DR: “He couldn’t offer any reason at all.”
PG: “Whether he could or he couldn’t, he didn’t?”
DR: “He didn’t, no.”

Mr Greaney says that Investigation revealed he was actually with Jordan Thompson, aka Dusty, not Jordan Curtis. Mr Rawsthorn agrees.
Mr Greaney: “Footage was seized from a nightclub. Footage from the night of Ashley’s killing.” He says it was from WAV nightclub.
PG: “Who can we see in that image?”
DR: “The top picture, that’s Lee Harrison with a black top on. He appears to be holding a glass That’s Jordan Thompson with the black cap on.
PG: “Lee Harrison hadn’t been with Jordan Campbell, he had been with dusty that night?
DR: “Yes, that’s correct.”

Ashley Dale murder trial as it happens

The 28-year-old was shot dead at her home on Leinster Road in Old Swan

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

15:12Jonathan Humphries

Lee Harrison 'refused to hand over phone'​

Mr Greaney asks: “The following day, August 22, did you and a colleague again attend the home of Lee Harrison’s parents? Did you speak to Lee Harrison?
PSI Rawsthorn says: “We spoke to him again yeah.”

He says he asked for an iPhone 8 Harrison had been using
PG: “Did you want that to see if it yielded any information on why Ashley had been killed?”
PSI Rawsthorn agrees but says “he wouldn’t give us the telephone….He said he lost it in the city centre the night before.”
PG: “You had evidence he was still using it on August 21.”
DR: “That’s correct, he was still using the phone after he left the city centre.”
PG: “Had he handed you a telephone?”
DR: “He handed us what we call a burner phone, a small black Nokia phone. It was last used in March 2022, and he’d only started using it again that day.”
PG: “He’d given you a phone he hadn’t used for months. He didn’t give you the phone you knew he’d been using and told a lie about what happened to it at a stage when you were investigating the killing of his partner?”
DR: “That’s correct….He just would not engage. He said he didn’t know any reason why Ashley would be targeted.”
PSI Rawsthorn says he attended again that evening.
PG: “Did he again deny being the subject of any threat or dispute?”
DR: “Yes, as before.”
PSI Rawsthorn says Harrison again refused to hand over his iPhone or attend a video recorded interview.

Ashley Dale murder trial as it happens

The 28-year-old was shot dead at her home on Leinster Road in Old Swan

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

snipped from link above


PG: “Did Lee Harrison tell you on that same day as Ashley had been killed he’d been to a nightclub then taken a taxi to Longview Heights?”
DR: “He did tell me that yes.”

PG: “Did he say he’d been past the crime scene and seen the road taped off?”
He agrees

PG: “He’d nonetheless travelled on to Longview Heights with his friends?”
DR: “Yes that’s correct/”

 

[Luwin]

To go with the above....

PG: “Did he say he had been in a relationship with Ashley for five years?”
DR: “Yes he did.”