Murder of Ashley Dale featured in Channel 4 documentary

Environmental health worker at Knowsley Council 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.

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 Liverpool in 2022.

Gunman stayed in St Helens after murder

Connections to St Helens were revealed during the court case last autumn.

The trial at Liverpool Crown Court heard that Witham and Joseph Peers, 29, said to be a “foot soldier” who drove Witham to the scene, had both stayed at the Mercure Hotel in St Helens, after the shooting, from August 21 to 23.

Joseph Peers and James Witham had stayed at the Mercure Hotel in St Helens (Image: Stock)

At the trial, Peers said Witham had come to his house, on Woodlands Road in Roby, on the morning of August 21 and asked if he wanted to go for a “steam and sauna”.

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The court heard Peers and Witham stayed at the hotel in St Helens for two nights, leaving for a few hours on August 22 when Peers said they went to KFC.

On August 23 they checked out of the hotel and Peers said he returned home but later that day Witham asked him to arrange a lift to Scotland.

Joseph Peers (Image: Merseyside Police)

The jail sentences passed for Ashley's murder

Witham was given a minimum jail term of 43 years in November last year.

Niall Barry, 26, who was described by the prosecution as the “malign presence” behind Ms Dale’s killing, was sentenced to a minimum term of 47 years.

Peers, 29, was sentenced to at least 41 years and Sean Zeisz, 28, who was accused of organising and encouraging the attack with Barry, was told to serve a minimum of 42 years.

All four were convicted of murder in the trial.

Sean Zeisz, Niall Barry, Joseph Peers and James Witham were given life sentences (Image: Merseyside Police)

When is the documentary on?

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.