CCTV footage released which could help find the killer of Ashley Dale

CCTV footage of a car being driven in the area close by to where Ashley Dale was murdered, shortly before the incident was reported has been released by Merseyside Police

Police were called to Leinster Road at around 12.40am on Sunday 21 August and found Ashley in the rear garden of the property with gunshot wounds.

Medical treatment was administered at the scene and she was taken to hospital but sadly died a short time later.

Ashley’s next of kin are being supported by specially trained officers.

A Home Office Post Mortem has taken place and confirmed the cause of Ashley’s death was a single gunshot wound.

An extensive investigation is underway including forensic, witness and house-to-house enquiries. At this stage, police do not believe Ashley was the intended target of the attack.

CCTV enquiries so far have shown that car was being driven into Leinster Road at around 12.30am, roughly 10 minutes before the incident was reported.

Officers wish to speak to the person who was driving the vehicle, or any passengers, as we believe that they may have vital information which could help our investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Cath Cummings said:

“Our officers are working round-the-clock to investigate this appalling incident which led to the tragic death of a young woman.

“Our enquiries so far show that a car was driven into Leinster Road, not too long before the incident was reported to police. If it was you driving the car, you were a passenger or the CCTV jogs your memory about anything you might have seen in the early hours of Sunday morning then please get in touch. Information you have could be crucial to our ongoing investigation.

“From reviewing CCTV footage in the area, we have also identified that there were a number of people on foot around the time of the incident. A boxing match had not long finished and so the area was relatively busy with people on foot, going home or into town after the match.

“If you were walking in the area of Leinster Road or on Prescot Road, including the crossroads near the Navigator pub between 12.20am and 12.40am on Sunday morning then please let us know. You may have seen or heard something which could really help us find those responsible.

“Similarly, I would ask taxi and delivery drivers if they were driving in the area between 12.20am and 12.40am and have dashcam footage please contact us.

“If you haven’t already come forward, please submit any information you have directly with our investigation team through our online portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk). This will make sure that your information is received and acted on as quickly as possible by detectives.

“Please come forward with anything you know to help us to get justice for Ashely’s family and put those responsible for this horrific incident before the courts.”

Anyone with any information can also contact us via social media @MerPolCC or call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 22000615873