A woman was killed by a machine gun after a ‘feud’ between her attacker and her boyfriend that began at Glastonbury, a court heard.
Ashley Dale, 28, was shot dead in a property in Liverpool in August of last year after James Witham broke through the door and shot her.
Fire from the Skorpion sub-machine gun hit her boyfriend Lee Harrison and struck Ashley in the stomach, causing “catastrophic injuries”.
She collapsed in the back garden where her cries of pain were heard by a neighbour.
Today, six men are on trial in connection with her death. Witham admitted manslaughter, claiming he did not see Ashley and was not aiming for her.
But Paul Greaney, prosecuting, claims that Witham and another man, Joseph Peers, 28, were “dispatched” to assassinate Mr Harrison and “leave no witnesses”.
The pair were allegedly ordered to do this by Niall Barry, 26; Sean Zeisz, 28; and Ian Fitzgibbon, 28, who were “directing operations” from a nearby flat.
The prosecution has told the jury that on the night of Ashley’s murder, Witham and Peers parked approached her house and slashed her car’s tyres. They then kicked the door in andAshley “screamed and fled” but they “pursued her”.
The “assassination” attempt was a result of a feud that started at Glastonbury 2022 where defendant Zeisz was “deeply humiliated” when he was assaulted by a friend of Mr Harrison.
Defendant Barry has prior issues with Mr Harrison and used this to start a feud that has led to the men being charged with conspiracy to murder, intent to endanger life and possession of a prohibited weapon.
The trial continues.
