A man accused of hiding the car allegedly used in the murder of Ashley Dale has been granted bail.
Kallum Radford, 25, was charged with assisting an offender last night and appeared at Wirral Magistrates' Court this morning for an initial hearing. Knowsley Council worker Ashley was at her home in Leinster Road, Old Swan, when a gunman burst through the front door shortly after midnight on August 21 last year, and fired multiple shots “indiscriminately”.
Ashley was hit in the abdomen and collapsed in the rear yard of the property, where she was spotted by a neighbour who raised the alarm. She was pronounced dead later that morning.
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Detectives have previously said they do not believe Ashley was the intended target, although the “address was targeted”.
On Monday morning, James Witham, 40, of Ashbury Road, Huyton, and Joseph Peers, 28, of Woodlands Road, Roby, were charged with murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. They were remanded in custody ahead of an appearance at Liverpool Crown Court tomorrow (Thursday).
According to the wording of the charge on the court list, Radford, of no fixed address but from the St Helens area, is accused of "taking possession" of a Hyundai i30 car "used by offenders" at an house in Waring Avenue, St Helens.
The charge says Radford allegedly had "intent to impede the apprehension or prosecution of Joseph Peers" while "knowing or believing him to be guilty of the offence of murder".
When the charge of assisting an offender relates to a murder, it is indictable only, meaning it can only be heard at a Crown Court and Radford was not formally asked to enter a plea.
Graham Simpson, defending Radford, made an application for conditional bail which was granted by the magistrates. Radford was released with conditions to reside at an address in Treatham Road, Kirkby, to wear an electronically monitored tag, to report twice a week to Kirkby police station and not to contact his co-defendants or a named witness.
He is next due to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on March 1 for a pre trial hearing.
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