Gas fitter accused of murdering Ashley Dale was at home at the time watching boxing, he tells court

A GAS fitter accused of murdering council worker Ashley Dale was at home at the time watching boxing, he told a court.

Joseph Peers, 29, allegedly drove gunman James Witham to Ashley’s home where she was shot with a sub-machine gun.

Ashley, 28, died at the scene in Old Swan, Liverpool, in the early hours of August 21 last year.

Peers said that night he watched the Anthony Joshua versus Oleksandr Usyk fight on TV after making his mum a cup of tea and sitting with her in her room.

Ex-boxer Peers, who once played for Tranmere Rovers, said he knew Ashley’s partner, Lee Harrison.

He said: "I knew him, he was a nice lad.

"Never had no trouble with him in my life."

Peers, Witham, 41, Sean Zeisz, 28, Ian Fitzgibbon, 28, and Niall Barry, 26, deny murdering Ashley, conspiracy to murder Mr Harrison and conspiracy to possess a sub-machine gun and ammunition.

Kallum Radford, 26, denies assisting an offender.

Case continues at Liverpool crown court.