Despite not being the one who pulled the trigger of the sub-machine gun that ended the life of his partner of five years in August 2022, Lee Harrison found himself entangled in a web of events that led to the mysterious death of 28-year-old Ashley Dale in Liverpool’s Old Swan area. Harrison’s deep involvement in the drug trade was the underlying cause of the tragic incident. His refusal to cooperate following the murder only further fueled the disdain from Ms. Dale’s family, intensifying their anguish. Harrison, now 27, is currently serving a five-year prison sentence for trafficking crack-cocaine and heroin across the north-west of England and north Wales in 2024, two years after Ms. Dale’s tragic demise.
James Allison, the senior crown prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service Mersey-Cheshire’s Complex Casework Unit, disclosed that after Ms. Dale’s murder, Harrison had left the country multiple times, traveling to destinations like Dubai, Thailand, and Spain, despite having no assets or money in his name. His arrest upon returning to Liverpool in possession of a cheap Nokia mobile phone used for advertising the sale of Class A drugs took place on 25 November last year.
Linked to the Hillsiders organized crime group based in Huyton, as per Merseyside Police, Harrison was found with a kilogram block of cocaine valued at about £11,000 in his Huyton residence on Liverpool Road. For Ms. Dale’s mother, Julie Dale, Harrison’s continued involvement in criminal activities that led to her daughter’s death underscored his disregard for Ashley. During the trial involving five individuals charged with Ms. Dale’s murder, it became evident that Harrison likely had insight into those who wished him harm, particularly his former friend and fellow drug trafficker, Niall Barry.
The feud between Harrison and Barry stemmed from a previous falling out over a burglary at a stash-house controlled by Barry, where drugs worth approximately £40,000 were stolen. Barry held resentment towards Harrison for not supporting him in this matter, resulting in escalating tensions between the two. The court learned that Barry and his associate, Sean Zeisz, confronted Harrison and his friend, Jordan Thompson, at the Glastonbury music festival, leading to further animosity.
Amidst a backdrop of organized crime and personal grievances, Barry and Zeisz conspired to harm Harrison, with the catalyst for their actions remaining unclear. Messages recovered by the police indicated that Barry and Zeisz believed that Thompson, known as Dusty within the Hillsiders, had mistreated Warnick, leading to heightened tensions. Additionally, Zeisz discovered Thompson’s relationship with his ex-girlfriend, further fueling the conflict.
The intricate web of relationships, criminal activities, and personal vendettas ultimately culminated in the enigmatic murder case of Ashley Dale, shedding light on the complexities and dangers associated with the drug trade and organized crime.
Amidst a heated gangland feud, prosecutors detailed the conflict in part through voice notes shared by Ms. Dale with friends, expressing her growing apprehension about the ongoing “beef” between two men. In one message, she grimly predicted that if the two men crossed paths, “one of them is gonna end up in a bad way.” Another note revealed her plea to Harrison for honesty so she could brace herself for the worst.
On August 21, 2022, at around 00:30 BST, a duo sent by Barry and Zeisz from a residence on Pilch Lane, Huyton, arrived at Ms. Dale’s residence on Leinster Road. James Witham, armed with a Skorpion machine-pistol capable of rapid firing, forced the front door open and unleashed a barrage of bullets inside the house. Meanwhile, Joseph Peers, a former promising boxer turned getaway driver, awaited Witham’s return outside.
Tragically, Ms. Dale was fatally wounded while attempting to escape through a back exit. Following his sentencing, Ms. Dale’s mother, Julie, expressed deep distress at Harrison’s conduct, labeling it as one of the most difficult aspects she had to cope with. She expressed disbelief at the callous and dismissive attitude displayed by Harrison and his family towards them.
Barry, Zeisz, Witham, and Peers were convicted of Ms. Dale’s murder and associated crimes, receiving life sentences with minimum terms ranging from 41 to 48 years in 2023. For more updates, tune in to BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds, follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and catch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. For further information, visit the HM Courts and Tribunals Service website.
