The gunman must serve at least 43 years while sentences for the others took the total tally to 173 years.
Council worker Ashley, 28, was killed when James Witham, 41, kicked down her door in Old Swan, Liverpool. He sprayed 10 bullets from a machine gun in an attack meant for her boyfriend Lee Harrison, 26, after a gang row. But he was out.
Her father Steven Dunne said “history was repeating itself” His son Lewis, 16, was shot dead seven years ago in a case of mistaken identity. He said: “I have lost another child. A victim of big egos running around the city with powerful guns, involved in petty feuds and killing innocent people.”
Sean Zeisz, 28, Niall Barry, 26, Joseph Peers, 29, and James Witham, 41, were convicted of Ashley’s 2022 murder. After the four were jailed at Liverpool Crown Court, Ashley’s mum Julie Dale, 46, told them: “I will never ever forgive you for the life sentence you have given me and my family.
“But I can now rest knowing you monsters are going to pay for what you have done to me and my family and you too have ruined your lives and your family’s lives.”
Witham, of Huyton, was jailed for a minimum of 43 years. Barry, of Tuebrook, – jailed for 47 years – was described by the prosecution as a “malign presence” behind the killing. Zeisz, of Huyton, organised the attack with Barry and got at least 42 years. Peers, of Roby, who drove Witham, was jailed for a minimum of 41 years.
Following the trial, it was revealed that Barry and Zeisz were also suspects in the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel who was shot in Liverpool 24 hours later. They were cleared through phone and CCTV evidence.
