Ashley Dale gunman refuses to listen to mum relive moment she found out daughter, 28, had been murdered as gang jailed
ASHLEY Dale's killers have today been jailed for 173 years as the gunman who shot her dead stormed out the dock while her mum spoke of her torment.
The council worker, 28, was "deliberately and mercilessly" blasted with a Skorpion sub-machine gun in a cold-blooded killing in August last year.
Ashley screamed "get the f**k out" at gunman James Witham while he fired ten bullets at her as she attempted to "run for her life".
She managed to stagger into the back garden of her home in Liverpool where she collapsed after a bullet tore through her abdomen causing "catastrophic" damage.
Witham, 41, then fired five bullets into a bedroom wall in a "firm message" to her boyfriend Lee Harrison - the "principle target" of the attack.
He, Niall Barry, 26, Sean Zeisz, 28, and Joseph Peers, 28, were jailed for a total of 173 years today after they were convicted of murder and conspiracy to murder.
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The gang were also found guilty of conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon, a Skorpion sub-machine gun, and ammunition.
Witham was handed a life sentence with a minimum of 43 years, Zeisz life to serve at least 42 years, "protagonist" Barry life with a minimum of 47 years and Peers life to serve at least 41 years.
Sentencing, Mr Justice Goose said: "Witham and Peers waited for their moment for this planned killing - what followed was a murder that shocked the local community and many in this country.
"The use of a military grade submachine gun to kill a woman in her own home at night is beyond any understanding.
"Ashley Dale was in the prime of her life and was gunned down in her own home, where she should have been safe.
"This murder was planned by the four of you - the motive concerned a deep seated drugs feud between you and Lee Harrison."
Ashley's mum faced her killers at Liverpool Crown Court today as she spoke of her torment at her daughter's death - causing Witham to temporarily leave the dock when she addressed him.
Tearful Julie revealed how she got the "dreaded knock no parent or family should ever have to get" in the early hours of the morning.
The mum added: "Two police officers stood at my door, an image that will haunt me forever. I remember walking down the stairs, saying to Bobby 'I’m scared', I know what this means.
"'Can we come in?', they said. Never did I think they would say these words...'She’s passed away'.
"My life might as well have ended there too. Those three little words had just turned my lights out forever; time has since stood still."
Julie told how she fell "shaking" to the floor as she realised she would have to break the heartbreaking news to Ashley's younger sisters.
She also revealed how the "horrific thought" came to her that her whole family "could have been killed that night" after the killers gave no thought as to who was in the house.
The mum said: "Another sound no mother should hear - the screams of my baby girls when I told them something awful had happened to their big sister, and she had passed away. The inconsolable cries of a seven and 12-year-old, whose lights had also just been switched off.
"Terrified something terrible will happen to them, we all spent the next week sleeping in the same bed.
"The months of sleepless nights, crying out in their sleep, shouting for their sister 'why, why, why'”' or 'mummy, help me'.
"That night I had to do the unthinkable. Again something no mum should ever have to do.
"I identified my beautiful, sweet baby girl in a mortuary, lying there lifeless behind a glass screen. Unable to touch, hold or smell her. My beautiful perfect girl was now a piece of evidence."
Julie also told how her own life "changed forever" as she was forced to leave her job as a midwife following Ashley's death, which came just two weeks after her daughter was promoted.
Turning to Ashley's killers, she added: "This past year has been unbearable, the countless visits from police, court visits, meeting with barristers and CPS, thrust into an unknown criminal arena.
"I have spent the last 15 months, anticipating how or if I would cope during my daughter’s murder trial. Having to sit through endless weeks, seeing and hearing the most horrific details of how my perfect girl was left terrified asking for help, dying alone in a cold wet back yard.
"Hearing how you all made attempts to cover this up with lies to save yourselves, showing no remorse or compassion to me or my family. Some of you even claiming to be heartbroken and devastated, yet still you could not do the right thing. Making a mockery with the answers given as to how and why this act was carried out.
"No act or person deserves to die - but this I will never ever begin to understand or accept how this could have happened to my perfect beautiful girl, who had her whole life ahead of her.
"I hope you ALL understand, that I will never ever forgive you, for the life sentence you have gave to me and my family.
"I hope my words haunt you all forever and you James Witham; I hope when you go to sleep at night you too see my baby girl’s face as I do every single night."
During a harrowing seven-week trial, jurors heard a feud had been simmering between Lee and Barry for around three years before the killing.
Lee, who did not cooperate with police after Ashley's death, was said to have sided with the Hillside organised crime group after they allegedly stole drugs from Barry.
Tensions then boiled over after "trouble broke out" at Glastonbury in June 2022.
Ashley and Lee had attended the festival as well as Zeisz, Barry - nicknamed "Branch" - Fitzgibbon and Witham.
Another group was also present that Lee had an "association" with.
One of the members of that gang, Jordan "Dusty" Thompson, attacked Zeisz because the killer had been "arguing" with everyone.
This "deeply humiliating" attack "reignited" the feud between his gang and Lee that left Ashley fearing the worst.
Just weeks before her death, she told a pal: "I am looking over my shoulder all the time.”
On the night of August 21 last year, Lee went out with pals leaving Ashley alone in the house with their dog.
That same evening, Witham and Peers arrived at her property in a Hyundai armed with the powerful gun.
Her killers at first made an attempt to lure her outside by slashing the tyres of her Volkswagen T-ROC to trigger an alarm.
But Ashley sent a text saying she believed the rain had set it off so she stayed inside where she was safe, or "so she no doubt thought".
As she continued messaging Lee about the alarm, he told her: "Hahahaha you think you’re in a horror movie”.
When she failed to respond, he asked "are you ok?" followed by: "Alive?"
Ashley replied: "No, I’m dead”.
Just moments later, Witham kicked the front door in to "kill [Lee] and deal with anyone that got in their way".
She was then pursued by the gunman, who opened fire as she desperately tried to flee.
Tragically, she was found lying on the ground in her back garden "groaning in pain".
When police arrived, Witham had fled with Peers and stricken Ashley could not be saved.
The killer, who admitted manslaughter, claimed he "never saw or heard Ashley" and said he shot her by accident.
He also moaned during his evidence that last year had been "torture"; for him.
The tragedy came just seven years after Ashley's brother Lewis Dunne was killed by drug dealers aged just 16.
He was also not the intended target of the shooting in a cruel echo of her killing.
Ashley's dad told today he was now confined to a "living nightmare" after both his children were killed.
Speaking of the moment he discovered Ashley was dead, Steven Dunne added: "I remember shouting ‘no’ for a long time at the top of my voice; I couldn’t believe it - history had repeated itself.
"It had been a long seven years of pulling myself out of some very dark – and at times, lonely – places, trying to put my life back together.
"In 2022, I was expecting the arrival of my first grandson, and life seemed to be pretty positive again. It had taken a lot to get to where I was after the murder of my son, and I’d instantly been put back to day one by the actions of another.
"Ashley is the oldest of my three children, Lewis the youngest – both are now deceased."
The horror unfolded just 48 hours before nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot dead by Thomas Cashman at her home in the city.
It can now be revealed two of Ashley's killers were named as potential suspects in the youngster's murder.
Zeisz and Barry were included in legal argument, along with Ian Fitzgibbon, 28, who stood trial but was cleared of Ashley's murder.
But the prosecution in Cashman's trial argued there was evidence that ruled the three men out.
Speaking after the sentencing today, Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Cath Cummings said: "Today Joseph Peers, James Witham, Nial Barry and Sean Zeisz have been jailed for life for the brutal and senseless murder of Ashley Dale, in her own home on Sunday 21st August last year.
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“That night, Ashley was in the safest place she thought she would be her home.
"A meticulous investigation has resulted in securing some answers for the family, but it will never take their pain away, their lives have been shattered beyond belief."
Ashley's mum's statement in full
03:45 on the 21st August 2022. The day I not only lost my daughter, but my best friend. The night we got that dreaded knock that no parent or family should ever have to get.
Two police officers stood at my door, an image that will haunt me forever. I remember walking down the stairs, saying to Bobby “I’m scared”, I know what this means. “Can we come in?”, they said. Never did I think they would say these words.
“She’s passed away,” they said.
My life might as well have ended there too. Those three little words had just turned my lights out forever; time has since stood still.
How? Why? What’s happened? Are you sure it’s Ashley? All those questions running round my mind. Our lives had just been turned upside down in the blink of an eye. She can’t be, we only spoke a few hours ago and she was fine.
There’s been an incident at Ashley’s home. “She has been shot” they said. Shaking, I fell to the floor.
The police officers left, leaving carnage behind. Myself and Bobby in total shock and disbelief. Ashley’s two younger sisters were sleeping peacefully in their beds upstairs. Then the reality set in, that I was going to have to tell them, their big sister they so adored was no longer here. Those poor innocent girls, exposed to this horrific act. How can I tell them some evil person has done this to their defenceless sister who was home alone in her place of safety. A place where they regularly spent nights staying over.
Sleeping in the bedroom where five shots had been fired, above the bed where they had slept only one week before. The horrific thought came to my mind, that we could have been here dealing with multiple murders. My whole family could have been killed that night. No thought given to who could have been in the house, one intention only: to kill.
Another sound no mother should hear - the screams of my baby girls when I told them something awful had happened to their big sister, and she had passed away. The inconsolable cries of a seven and 12-year-old, whose lights had also just been switched off.
Terrified something terrible will happen to them, we all spent the next week sleeping in the same bed. The months of sleepless nights, crying out in their sleep, shouting for their sister “why, why, why” or “mummy, help me”. The ongoing months of therapy needed, to help my now nine-year-old process how or why this has happened. My 12-year-old forced to change school, as she felt unable to return to her old one. In fear of everyone knowing what had happened, not wanting to feel like she was in a ‘fish bowl’ with all eyes on her. Never to spend another night staying over at their big sister’s house being spoilt, or never getting to become aunties, a role that they both so looked forward too.
That night I had to do the unthinkable. Again something no mum should ever have to do. I identified my beautiful, sweet baby girl in a mortuary, lying there lifeless behind a glass screen. Unable to touch, hold or smell her. My beautiful perfect girl was now a piece of evidence.
The weeks went by and the unthinkable things continued. Choosing a coffin for my 28-year-old daughter, brochures left behind like I was choosing a piece of furniture, or shopping for an outfit for her to wear, whilst she lay dead alone in a funeral home. Planning her funeral, the most unnatural thing a parent should ever have to do. What should have been a private event broadcast on TV for the world to see. Our once private life, now in the public eye for all to see and comment.
How has this happened? Two weeks before we toasted her promotion over Sunday lunch. Ashley was so excited to start her new role and we were all so so proud of her achievements, seeing her graduate was one of the proudest moments of my life. But now the plans she had for life had been robbed from her, for an utterly senseless crime.
At 45 I’d lost my daughter, my life has changed forever. I’ve been forced to leave my job as a midwife, which I have done for the past 20 years. A career I’d worked so hard for, to better mine and Ashley’s lives, defeating the odds by going to university and getting a degree after being written off as a young mum. The sense of loss after not being unemployed since the age of 16, and the financial hardship and worry this has brought.
I hate that I won’t see her get married, have children and deliver her babies, become Nanny “Julie” or grow old together like we always joked about. Often being mistaken for sisters as we were only 16 years apart. Trying to fill that void, as we spoke every day sharing everything. Getting into my car and calling her, even if she never answered, that I will never get used to. We don’t get to spend another Christmas with her, harassing me to put her tree up. Walking in on Christmas day looking like a supermodel, asking “when’s dinner ready?” and I look like I’ve been dragged through a hedge sweating over the stove.
We should be celebrating her 30th birthday this year, a milestone we all so looked forward to celebrating, and have that trip to New York, like we did for her 18th.
I don’t like leaving the house anymore, socialising with friends, having my photo taken, going the gym and doing all the things we once enjoyed doing as a family - I am a different mum, friend and partner now.
I don’t feel safe in my own home, fearful something terrible will happen to me or my family. My once rational mind is very irrational now. I am scared when a car drives past, or an unexpected visitor knocks at the door. I can’t sleep and when I do I wake and the reality of this nightmare hits me and Ashley dies over and over again. I take medication I never imagined myself needing just to get me through the day. Months of counselling to help process this, but what can anyone say or do to make me feel better?
This past year has been unbearable, the countless visits from police, court visits, meeting with barristers and CPS, thrust into an unknown criminal arena. I have spent the last 15 months, anticipating how or if I would cope during my daughter’s murder trial. Having to sit through endless weeks, seeing and hearing the most horrific details of how my perfect girl was left terrified asking for help, dying alone in a cold wet back yard. Hearing how you all made attempts to cover this up with lies to save yourselves, showing no remorse or compassion to me or my family. Some of you even claiming to be heartbroken and devastated, yet still you could not do the right thing. Making a mockery with the answers given as to how and why this act was carried out.
No act or person deserves to die - but this I will never ever begin to understand or accept how this could have happened to my perfect beautiful girl, who had her whole life ahead of her.
I hope you ALL understand, that I will never ever forgive you, for the life sentence you have gave to me and my family.
People speak about Justice for Ashley! But in my eyes there will never be justice, the only justice is that this would never have happened. Although I can now rest knowing that you monsters are going to pay for what you have done to me and my family. And that you too have ruined your own lives and your family’s lives. I hope my words haunt you all forever and you James Witham; I hope when you go to sleep at night you too see my baby girl’s face as I do every single night.
For My Ash, My Baby Girl, Forever 28. I love you. I Miss You. Until we meet again, Mum.