Ashley Dale: Two arrested on suspicion of murder after woman shot dead in back garden

Police are continuing to appeal for information after the 28 year-old was killed in Liverpool in August

Council worker Ashley Dale was killed in August (Supplied)

A man and woman have been arrested in connection with the murder of a woman shot dead in her back garden.

Ashley Dale was killed on 21 August after suffering a gunshot wound at her home in the Old Swan area of Liverpool.

A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: “A 31-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman, both from St Helens, have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

“Both were taken into custody for questioning and have now been released under investigation pending further enquiries.”

A total of 11 arrests have now been made and all remain on conditional bail or under investigation.

Police believe Ms Dale, an environmental officer for Knowsley Council, was not the intended target of the shooting.

Her killing was one of three fatal shootings in Liverpool within the space of a week.

Olivia Pratt-Korbel was killed in her home in Dovecot on 22 August and 22-year-old Sam Rimmer was shot in Dingle on 16 August.

Opening the inquest into Ms Dale’s death last month, a senior coroner for Liverpool said police were called to the scene by a concerned member of the public after seeing a woman lying on her back on the floor in the backyard of a home on Leinster Road.

Ms Dale was killed within a week of Olivia Pratt-Korbel in the same city (PA Media)

Andre Rebello said officers found Ms Dale unresponsive, her mobile phone on the floor nearby and several bullet casings, consistent with a firearms discharge of multiple rounds.

Neighbours reported hearing loud bangs and the wheels of a vehicle “screeching” away from the area, the inquest heard.

Merseyside Police added that anyone with information about the shooting should contact them.

“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.”

Anyone with information can contact mipp.police.uk, on Twitter at @MerPolCC or call 101.

Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 22000615873.