Killer who gunned down Elle Edwards cost the taxpayer £282K new figures reveal
The gunman who murdered Elle Edwards on Christmas Eve last year has cost the taxpayer £282,000.
The 26-year-old beautician was gunned down outside a pub in the Wirral, Merseyside, while on a festive night out with pals. She'd stepped outside for a cigarette when she was caught in the crossfire amid a gangland feud.
Connor Chapman, then 23, fired 12 shots with a Skorpion pistol in a crowd of people outside the Lighthouse in Wallasey, with five others injured. He was jailed for 48 years. It has now been revealed exactly how much he has cost Brits in legal aid between 2013 and now.
He was first charged with burglary and theft 11 years ago. Figures obtained proved there was a total of £267,000 for legal representation during his murder trial at Liverpool crown court earlier this year.
Connor Chapman, 23, was jailed for 48 years (PA)It comes as Elle's heartbroken dad Tim said her loved ones will celebrate Christmas for the sake of her nephew and his grandson. Tim told The Sun: "There has been a lot of mixed emotions as the day has got closer. There's apprehension and sadness too because Elle won't be here, but the family will all be together on Christmas Day.
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"I have my grandson who is four so I'm going to make a fuss of him. Why should he miss out over Christmas? He doesn't know what's going on or what's happened. I want to try and keep it as normal as possible. Obviously there will be a time when we sit and celebrate Elle and reflect on what's happened and it's going to be sad, but we have to keep going forward."
Elle's family say they are determined to celebrate Christmas (PA)Two women and two men are accused of assisting an offender and are due before court on January 15 next year in relation to Elle's death. Tim also condemned the Lighthouse pub for opening on the anniversary of his beloved daughter's death and claimed the pub's owners have failed to engage with him or other members of Elle's family.
He labelled the venue's behaviour as "pure greed", and said that he has reached out to owners Greene King, adding: "If I had my way that pub would be gone." Tim did say, however, the brewery originally offered to pay for therapy, but he hasn't had any personal contact.
Skorpion machine pistols have been involved in nine crimes since her death (PA)Tim launched a GoFundMe page called Elle's Army to raise money to establish a foundation in her name. He also joined actor and comedian John May on a walk from Lands End to John O'Groats to raise awareness of knife and gun crime in Merseyside. Next year, he plans to complete a 155-mile ultramarathon across the Sahara Desert in Morocco.
In a statement, Greene King said:“Elle's death continues to resonate with all of us nearly a year on and our deepest condolences remain with her family and friends for their unimaginable loss.
“After discussions between our pub team and the local community, we felt the right decision was for The Lighthouse to remain a place for everyone to be together as so many people were deeply affected by what happened. Our plan was to always donate the money taken by the pub on Christmas Eve to charity.”
Merseyside Police said Skorpion machine pistols have been involved in nine crimes since her death.
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