James Witham pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter at Liverpool Crown Court today
The 28-year-old died after being found unresponsive in the back yard of her home on Leinster Road, Old Swan, shortly after midnight on August 21 last year. Detectives previously stated that a gunman had burst through her front door and fired multiple shots "indiscriminately", one of which had struck the Knowsley Council environmental health officer in the abdomen.
Witham, of Ashbury Road in Huyton, is one of five men who have been charged with her murder. The 41-year-old appeared before Liverpool Crown Court today, Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.READ MORE: Boy's heartbreaking gesture to his big brother whenever he sees a post box
He is still due to stand trial beginning on Monday, October 2, to face charges of murdering Ashley, conspiracy to murder Lee Harrison, possession of a prohibited weapon - namely a Skorpion submachine gun and ammunition - with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon with intent to endanger life.
Ian Fitzgibbon, aged 28 and of Heigham Gardens in St Helens, is yet to enter pleas to these alleged offences. A sixth man - 25-year-old Kallum Radford, of Trentham Road in Kirkby - denies assisting an offender.