13 June 2023 , 10:47
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A man has gone on trial accused of murdering "wholly innocent" beautician Elle Edwards, who was shot dead at a pub on Christmas Eve.
Elle, 26, was gunned down just before midnight at the Lighthouse pub in Wirral, Merseyside, but was not believed to have been the intended target of the attack, which left four men injured.
Connor Chapman, 23, is on trial at Liverpool Crown Court charged with her murder.
Prosecutor Nigel Power, KC told the court: “Elle Edwards, a wholly innocent bystander, was killed by two bullets which entered the back of the left side of her head.
“The gunman was using a Skorpion submachine gun, a Czech firearm designed for the security services and the army.
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"We say the man who fired those shots was Connor Chapman.”
The jury was played CCTV footage of the shooting itself. In it a man in dark clothing leaning out from behind a car in the pub carpark, opens fire a a group of people.
Connor Chapman denies murder (Liverpool Echo)
Ellie's dad Tim arrives for the first day of the trial (Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)Kieran Salkeld can be seen to drop to the floor, with Elle just out of view. The gunman then gets into a vehicle and drives away as people rush to assist the victims.
Mr Power told the jury the shooting followed a “history of trouble” between rival groups from the Woodchurch and Ford estates, on either side of the M53 in the Wirral.
Chapman denied possessing a converted Skorpion sub-machine gun and ammunition with intent to endanger life.
He also pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Jake Duffy and Kieran Salkeld, and similarly denies wounding with intent against Harry Loughran, Jake Speed and Liam Carr.
Yesterday Chapman admitted handling stolen goods at Liverpool Crown Court.
The charge relates to a Mercedes A Class vehicle which he is said to have handled between December 23 and December 31 last year.
Chapman denies eight counts, including the murder of Ms Edwards.
Ellie Edwards' family including her dad Tim arrive at court (Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)Also expected to appear in the dock throughout the trial, is Chapman's co-defendant Thomas Waring, 20, of Private Drive, Barnston, Wirral.
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Waring is charged with assisting an offender by disposing of the Mercedes, which is alleged to have been used by Chapman during the murder.
He also denies possession of a Skorpion submachine gun.
Yesterday a jury of 12 people were sworn in for the case which is expected to last up to four weeks.
Elle's father Tim and other supporters were in court this morning for the first day of the trial.
Her family has previously paid tribute to her and say she will be remembered as a "beautiful" and "bright" woman.
In a statement, they said: “Her looks, her laugh and the way she would light up a room as she walked in.
"She had this way about her that as soon as you met her, you instantly fell in love with her.
“She loved life, and had so many amazing plans for the future. She was only just getting started
“Christmas in our family will never be the same without her, she was the glue that held this big family together.
"We will love and miss her forever, our Ellie May, the most beautiful and bright star out there, forever and always."