A mystery cordon in place for over two weeks is linked to the murder of Ashley Dale.
Merseyside Police officers have remained at a property on Pilch Lane, Dovecot for over two weeks. A mystery cordon was first spotted on Monday, August 29 around a door leading to a first floor flat next to Rowlands Pharmacy and Thatchairs hairdressers.
Police forensic teams have also been spotted entering the cordon. New images taken by the ECHO today, Tuesday, September 13 showed a police scientific support vehicle parked on Pilch Lane and a blue tarpaulin pulled over the front door.
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The ECHO previously approached Merseyside Police for information regarding the mystery cordon and was told the scene "relates to an ongoing investigation". But now a police spokesperson has confirmed to the ECHO the forensic officers' presence on Pilch Lane is "part of an ongoing investigation into the murder of Ashley Dale".
Ashley was found shot in the back yard of her home on Leinster Road, Old Swan, in the early hours of Sunday, August 21. The 28-year-old, who was an environmental health officer at Knowsley Council, died after a gunman forced his way into her home and fired multiple shots "indiscriminately".
Ashley was found lying in the back yard of her house on Leinster Road with a gunshot wound to the abdomen after neighbours raised the alarm. She was described as a "shining light" who "had her entire life ahead of her".
Four arrests have been made in connection with Ashley's murder but no one has been charged. Two men, aged 25 and 27 from the Liverpool and Dovecot areas, were arrested on suspicion of murder and later released on bail. A 21-year-old woman, from Liverpool, and a 48-year-old woman, from St Helens, were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and have also both been bailed.
The cordon on Pilch Lane has seen a steady police presence since it was first erected. When the ECHO first visited the cordon on August 31, a man, who lived just off Pilch Lane, told the ECHO no one "has a clue" what has happened.
The man, who did not want to be named, said: "I drove past a few nights ago and noticed a police car outside Chans and some tape surrounding one of the doors next to the shops. It all seems a bit strange because they were still there again at half 11 last night. Nobody seems to have a clue though."
Another resident told the ECHO this morning: "As a local resident I am stressed over the fact police have been there for over two weeks and people in the area have no idea why. We want to know what is going on on our doorstep."
A Merseyside Police spokesperson told the ECHO : "We are continuing to appeal for information in connection with Ashley's death and would ask anyone who has not already come forward to speak to police to do so as a matter of urgency."
Ashley's murder was part of a week of gun violence in Liverpool in August. Sam Rimmer was shot on Lavrock Bank in Dingle while walking with friends on August 16. Nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was then gunned down in her own home on August 22.
Please submit any information you have directly with Merseyside Police's investigation team through the online portal - mipp.police.uk. This will make sure that your information is received and acted on as quickly as possible by detectives. Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.
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