Gunman who killed Ashley Dale ‘lying to get co-defendants out of it’, court told

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In his closing speech at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, said James Witham, 41, who accepts firing the shot which killed Miss Dale, was attempting to be the “fall guy” for his co-defendants. James Witham knows his own position in this trial is hopeless and his aim in advancing his lying account is to try and get the others out of it Paul Greaney KC Mr Greaney described Niall Barry, 26, as the “malign presence” for what happened at the home on Leinster Road and said he had “major beef” with Lee Harrison. He said: “James Witham knows his own position in this trial is hopeless and his aim in advancing his lying account is to try and get the others out of it.” He said Witham’s account, which included speaking to brothers, both called Dave, and learning of a machine gun buried in Stadt Moers Park, Huyton, which he then dug up using a jug, would be “laughable if this case were not so serious”. “You’re dealing with a man here, you may think, without gang allegiances, without involvement in fall-outs, not involved in threats, or in weapons.” Barry, Zeisz, Fitgibbon, Witham and Peers deny the murder of Miss Dale, conspiracy to murder Mr Harrison and conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon – a Skorpion sub-machine gun – and ammunition.