The men accused of murdering Ashley Dale in her own home are alleged to have been in possession of a 'Skorpion machine pistol'.
Ashley, 28, was found in the rear yard of her property in Leinster Road, Old Swan, shortly after midnight on August 21 last year. Detectives said a gunman had burst through her front door and fired multiple shots "indiscriminately", one of which had struck the Knowsley Council worker in the abdomen.
Merseyside Police have previously said detectives do not believe she was the intended target of the shooter, although they believed the "address was targeted".
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On Monday, James Witham, of Ashbury Road in Huyton and Joseph Peers, of Woodlands Road in Roby, were charged with Ms Dale's murder. The pair were also charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life earlier this week.
According to the wording of the charge, they allegedly possessed a firearm, namely a "Skorpion machine-pistol designed or adapted so that two or more missiles could be discharged in succession without repeated pressure on the trigger" on August 21.
The pair, aged 40 and 28 respectively, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court via video link to HMP Dovegate this morning, Thursday for a pre trial hearing. Peers appeared with short, mousey hair and facial hair and wearing a blue and yellow jumper while Witham sported short brown hair and wore a green and yellow tracksuit top.
Both spoke to confirm their names and dates of birth, but were not asked to enter any pleas. A provisional trial date was scheduled for October 3, with the case expected to last for six to eight weeks.
Peers and Witham were remanded into custody by Judge Andrew Menary KC ahead of a further appearance on June 30. A third man, Kallum Radford, has been charged with assisting an offender in relation to the investigation into Ms Dale's death.
The 25-year-old, of Treatham Road in Kirkby, is accused of "taking possession" of a Hyundai i30 car "used by offenders" at an house on Waring Avenue in St Helens. He has been released on conditional bail ahead of an appearance before the crown court on March 1.
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